Under siege!   ———

Utrecht’s fortifications were seriously put to the test for the first time in 1345, when Count William IV of Holland arrived with an army of 30,000 soldiers. The people of Utrecht had assumed their positions on the high walls and towers well in time. From their vantage point they could clearly see the many tents and proud banners of the Holland regiments. Despite being well-trained, the Utrecht citizen militia was forced to surrender after seven weeks – but not before negotiating an acceptable peace treaty.