Limestone night in the municipality of Briel, Netherlands
Limestone night in the municipality of Briel, Netherlands is held on April 1. The Kalknacht commemorates the victory over the Spaniards of the Duke of Alba in 1572. This event in the first decade of the month April is annual.
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The Capture of Brielle by the Watergeuzen, on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years' War. Militarily the success was minor as the port of Brielle was undefended, but it provided the first foothold on land for the rebels at a time when the rebellion was all but crushed, and it offered the sign for a new revolt throughout the Netherlands which led to the formation of the Dutch Republic.
The Watergeuzen were led by William van der Marck, Lord of Lumey, and by two of his captains, Willem Bloys van Treslong and Lenaert Jansz de Graeff. After they were expelled from England by Elizabeth I, they needed a place to shelter their 25 ships. As they sailed towards Brielle, they were surprised to find out that the Spanish garrison had left in order to deal with trouble in Utrecht. On the evening of April 1, the 600 men sacked the undefended port. As they were preparing to leave, one of the men said there was no reason they should leave where they were.
Similar holidays and events, festivals and interesting facts
Easter in Western Christianity on April 5 (Første påskedag in Norway);
Easter Monday on April 6 (Påskedag in Norway);
Dutch-American Friendship Day on April 19 (United States)
Tree Planting Day in Belgium, Italy, Lesotho, Portugal on March 21
Rebirth Festival on April 10
Skater and Figure Skater Day on April 14
International Banana Day on April 15