User:Noahverel97/sandbox

Possibilities for article changes:

This is a page that does not exist yet: The Stangs. It is a band in the Netherlands which is popular in Den Haag and is increasing in popularity.

The second option is to improve the page on Sungha Jung. He is a professional guitar player who mostly became popular through youtube.

Third option is to create a new page on Ciske de Rat de musical. This page does not exist yet and it concerns one of the most popular musicals in the Netherlands around 2010.

The fourth option is to create a new article about a certain memorial in the Netherlands, it is called the Groenedijk Monument This memorial represents one of 4 locations which was used to destroy the Dykes and cause the Spanish army in the Netherlands during the 80 year war to be hindered by water which was now out of its artificial route.

Article Groenedijk Monument

The Groenedijk Monument also known as the Dukdalf is a monument in Capelle aan den IJssel which serves as a memorial for the events that took place in 1574 related to the Dutch Tachtigjarige Oorlog internationally known as the Dutch Revolt. During the conflict, William the Silent ordered the destruction of several dykes in order to stop the Spaniards who were at that time surrounding the Dutch city of Leiden. This tactic proved to be successful as the Spanish troops were greatly affected by the incoming water that took them by surprise. The Spanish troops lost their mobility whereas the troops mustered by William the Silent had prepared for the water using small ships. With the help of the controlled destruction of dykes in 4 strategic locations, the city of Leiden could be freed with the help of the Sea Beggars, better known as the Geuzen. Now, the people in Leiden who had been starving for months could be fed with herring, which became a Dutch tradition in the remembrance of The Siege of Leiden.

History During the Dutch Revolt, Spanish troop under the direct supervision of the Duke of Alba, wanted to force the city of Leiden, which was a notable city in The Netherlands at the time, into submission. Spanish troops had already had many military successes up to 1574 leaving the Dutch people in disparity and starvation. The Siege at the city of Leiden was no outlier to this. Even though the besieging circumstances were horrific for the Spanish troops, they managed to surround the city successfully. A long lasting siege started which took lives on both sides of the city walls. The breaking of the dykes was something Spanish forces were not at all prepared for and the Dutch had gained the help of the Sea Beggars. This was a pirate like group of people who had turned to help the Dutch and were very effective in their endeavor of hindering or beating down the Spanish cause. The Sea Beggars were crucial in the Relief of Leiden as the destroying of the dykes had caused much of the land surrounding Leiden to be underwater. The Sea Beggars had boats to sail over this water and attack or scare away the Spanish troops who were as a result of the water trapped in the water or on small hills which were just above water but surrounded by water. The Sea Beggars together with the rest of the Dutch rebel force were able to bring food to the starving population of Leiden, which by now has become a tradition. Every year the Relief of Leiden is celebrated in the Netherlands on the third of October. People come together and eat the traditional herring with white bread, the same food the Sea Beggars gave to the starved people in Leiden. Up until now the breaking of the dyke at Capelle aan den IJssel and at several other places is often seen as one of the crucial moments in the creation of the Dutch Republic and the start of freedom.

The Monument The monument was designed by J. Nieuwehuis, a employee of the Dutch governmental company Rijkswaterstaat. The monument is meant as an ironic gesture towards the Spanish Duke of Alba who is up until today a hated figure in Dutch History due to his radical approach towards the Dutch population at the time. The name Dukdalf was inspired on the Sea Beggars who had a great part in the relief of the besieging of Leiden. They named it after a commonly referred to method used by water lock managers in their effort to keep ships from sailing into the water lock. This name has little to no relation to the events that are represented by the monument.