When Ruprecht of the Palatinate – the Archbishop of Cologne – occupied Zons, which had been pledged to the cathedral chapter, in a dispute over the imposition of a poll and hearth tax, an already simmering conflict erupted openly in 1473: the Cologne Stiftsfehde. One event led to another—Neuss was besieged, Charles the Bold of Burgundy, and eventually the Holy Roman Empire got involved, turning the affair into a matter of European significance for a time.

It was in these turbulent times that the 'Sturm auf Zons' (Storm on Zons) took place. 
Every year in May, over 300 reenactors gather in the historic old town of Zons, setting up camp, marching through the city, passing through the stands and markets, and reenacting the storming of the historic city wall.

This year, I—Evelien—attended the event alone due to illness. Nevertheless, it was wonderful to see the city come to life with history, to meet old and new acquaintances, to capture moments in photographs, and to accompany the two captains on their hobby horses as well as the Feldweib on her nightly camp patrol.