Battle for Grolle (1627) - reenactment & festivities 2017

Visiting one of the largest 17th-century re-enactments in the world: the Siege of Grol in the Netherlands, when the old fortress town of Groenlo reverts to how it used to be 390 years ago, when Dutch and Allied forces recaptured the city from the Spanish in the Eighty Years' War. The first part of the video shows the impressive battle re-enactment with around 1,600 re-enactors originating from most of the nations that took part historically, such as the Netherlands, Spain, England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Italy. There were also re-enactors from countries that didn't take part historically, such as Czech Republic and even the USA and Australia!

In the battle scenes, the Spanish and Allied forces (e.g. Italian and German mercenaries) are on the left, while the Dutch and Allied forces (e.g. Scottish, English, French and German mercenaries) are coming from the right. At the end of the battle the victorious Dutch forces shout out "Oranje Boven!" or "Orange above!", referring to the ascendancy of the House of Orange and to the Dutch Republic's tricolor flag at the time, orange-white-blue.

The second part of the video shows some of the scenes in the town, with the various regiments marching around and the villagers living life as it was back then. With wandering geese, a brothel, taverns and all manner of attractions.

I've been to many historical reenactments but this is without doubt one of the best. It's not surprising that people come from as far away as Australia to participate!