80 Years of War

Episode Synopsis

William of Orange has fled to Germany. There he organizes troops to fight against the monarch in the Netherlands, Philip II. Apart from a small success in the battle of Heiligerlee, that does not yield much for the time being. More promising are the Watergeuzen, which make the coasts unsafe, including from Emden, Germany. They loot ships, terrorize civilians and finally manage to get solid ground in Den Briel in 1572. On April 1, there is still a large-scale celebration. But the Catholics, who were hanged by the Geuzen in the same Den Briel, are also commemorated annually as martyrs.