Groenlo's Claim to Fame - at least 3 Big Ones!

 
Huh! Groenlo sits comfortably in the municipality of Oost Gelre, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands near the German border, a region in the province of Gelderland called Achterhoek.  Why do we need to know this ? At least there are 3 good ones:
 
   
   
   
Reason #1: for us - Rotarian Joop (Joe) Ueffing is from there !!! and he and his wife Susan still maintain a strong connection.  Susan is our incoming club President for 2016/17 for those who aren't paying attention, and Joe is a club past president for his official Rotary year 1994-95.
 
Ummh . . . cool beer !
Reason #2: Groenlo is the home of Grolsch Brewery since 1615.  They brew a popular beer which can be readily found at Canadian outlets;
 
and,
 
Reason #3: it's about a 16th century re-enactment of a civil war between the Spanish and the local population that is becoming a huge event involving Joe's city, his country and participants from other countries throughout Europe.
 
Here is what Joe and Susan had to say about their visit this past fall.  I must compliment them, they had great pictures for us, including them in their period costumes, yet, the following, accept for the picture of Joe and Susan, have been extracted from various websites including some history captured from Wikipedia - since no notes were taken at the meeting:
 

The Battle of Grolle or in Dutch ‘Slag om Grolle’ has become a regular historical reenactment of the siege of the fortified border town of Groenlo (formerly known as Grol or Grolle) in 1627 during the Dutch Revolt. The event is held in and around Groenlo itself every two years. The event lasts for three days and features a historic battle reenactment and a historic fair.  Regular persons get involved with the re-enacting of their parts and come from many European countries. During the event, the re-enactors try to relive the conditions of 1627 as faithfully as possible, living without electricity or heating, all while eating traditional food.

The event was first held in 2005 with around 350 re-enactors, among which were pikemen, swordsmen, around 100 musketeers with working cannons.

In October 2008 the event was held for a second time featuring more than 600 re-enactors from France, Germany, England, Scotland, the Czech Republic and of course the Netherlands. The 2008 event included cavalry, 21 working cannons and more than 250 musketeers. The 'Grols Kanon', left behind as a gift to the people of Grol by Frederik Hendrik in 1627, was also used.

In the streets of Groenlo itself, a 17th-century atmosphere is recreated, with beggars, street rascals, lepers, musicians and artisans. More than 30,000 people came to visit the 2008 event, and it was thus decided by organizers to hold it every two years . . . hint, hint nudge, nudge. The latest re-enactment was October 2015 which is when Joe and Susan and family members became involved in this spectacular event.  A significant number of Groenlo's locals get involved in recreating the decor with costume, community, entertainment and food.

Joop & Susan having fun in period costume on right.

Hint . . . nudge - It definitely should be one of your bucket list items for October, 2017.  That is when the event will be celebrated again.  Now we understand the event is well proven and hence expectations are well founded that it will be equal or perhaps even more spectacular than ever before.

Thanks go to Joop and Susan, our two Rotarians for this comprehensive and educational presentation . . . but next time, bring Grolsch!  I must say it looks like Joop and Susan had a ball.