On August 26, 27, and 28, the festivities of the Relief of Groningen in 1672 take place. With an extensive city program and a varied horse show.
August 26, 2016
- afternoon – Festive afternoon for people with intellectual disabilities from the city and surrounding area
- 8:00 PM – Bommen Berend Music Theatre, Maritime Museum
- 20:00-01:00 – Bommen Berend Night. A truly Groningen party. With DJs Danny Dacosta and Dennis van der Geest on the Grote Markt.
27 AUGUST 2016, CITY PROGRAM
- 08.25-08.35 – Wreath laying at the bust of Rabenhaupt (City Hall)
- 9:00 AM – Bells ring Martini Tower
August 28 carillon concert by the city carillonist
- 09:30-11:00 – Horse inspection on the Grote Markt
- all day – Mini-exhibition Traces of the Relief of Groningen (City Hall Balcony)
- all day – August 28th Street Fair Oude Kijk in ’t Jatstraat
- all day – Comic book and book market Hoge der A Kleine der A-markt
- 10:00-11:00 – Tour of orchestras through Hoogkerk, De Hunze and Selwerd
- 10:00-17:00 – Smaller A-market
- 14:00-16:30 – Old fire trucks, Eems Canal north side – Damstersingel
- 15:00-01:00 – Incredibly Groningen Party on the Grote Markt Yves Berendsen, Diep Triest, Jannes, Rene Karst, Marco den Hollander and DJ Sowieso
- 13:00-17:00 – Cabaret festival and games for the very youngest people of Groningen
(Reitemakersrijge and Maritime Museum)
- all day – Battle of Bands stage Westerhaven & Incredibly Outdoor Westerhaven: climbing wall, mega catapult, making graffiti, etc.
Swimchallenge. Relay swimming from Zoutkamp to Groningen and in Groningen The City Swim starts parallel to the Hunze.
Terrific Dragon Boat Races to Hoge der A
- 11:30-12:30 – August 28 Speech by King's Commissioner René Paas
- 12:00-12:30 – Bicycle raceThe Golden Water BottleChildren from different neighborhoods compete for the honor.
- 12:00-16:00 – Puppet Theatre – Jan Klaasen meets Bommen Berend, Reitemakersrijge (3 performances)
- 13:00 & 15:00 – Bommen Berend Music Theatre, Maritime Museum
- 13:00-16:00 – Brass bands in the city center
- 17:00-19:00 – Large Meal (Weeva, Zuiderdiep)
- 20:00-21:45 – Rabenhaupt Tattoo (Damsterplein)
- 23:00-23:20 – Grand and Brilliant FIREWORKS (Zuiderhaven)
27 AUGUST 2016, ‘T PEERDESPUL (CITY PARK) AND THE HORSE INSPECTION (NOTE: GROTE MARKT!)
August 28, 2016
- 10:00-14:00 – 14th Bommen Berendloop
- afternoon – Canal Festival through the Diepenring
- afternoon – Floating Paradise in the Zuiderhaven
- 15:00-17:00 – Incredibly Groningen Party on the Grote Markt Ali B and DJ Sowieso
- afternoon – Puppet show theatre – Jan Klaasen and Bommen Berend at Noorderzon
- afternoon – Puzzling with the work of Eerelman, the ‘Night Watch of Groningen’ (5 x 7 meters) at Noorderzon
- afternoon – Conclusion of the celebration and commemoration of the Relief of Groningen 2016
- 7:00 PM – Bombs Berend Balloons on the trotting track in the City Park
Background image “The Horse Inspection”
The Groningen painter Otto Eerelman (1839–1926) was honored with a street name in his birthplace for his eightieth birthday in 1919. He was also commissioned by the city council to create a large painting. Eerelman was allowed to choose the subject himself, but the municipality preferred a Groningen scene. The painter chose to depict the horse inspection, one of the traditional annual festivities on August 28 commemorating the Relief of Groningen.
In the painting, Eerelman depicted a large number of prominent Groningen residents who held special significance for equestrian sports. It is not a snapshot; a number of the people depicted had already passed away by 1919. The facades on the left side of the painting were also ‘repainted’ to reflect an earlier period at the direction of city architect J.A. Mulock Houwer.
In March 1920, the painting was presented to the citizens of Groningen for two days in the window of the former Café De Jong on the corner of the Kreupelstraatje from the Grote Markt. Afterwards, it was given a place in the wedding hall of the City Hall. It cost the municipality 5,500 guilders.
Main image: Wikipedia
