Leiden is one of the old cities of Holland proper and rose to industrial importance during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Leidens finest hour was during the monthlong Spanish Siege at the end of the sixteenth century.

Legend has it that after the Leidenaren ate the dogs, cats and rats, they went to their mayor and said that there was no food anymore, so they should give in to the spanish. The mayor replied that they could first eat him and then give in to the Spanish. The crowd went home and after two more weeks, the geuzen tore down the dikes and flooded the country side. The Spanish fled and the beginning of the victory of William of Orange was there.