The situation became worse for Haarlem on 29 March 1573. The defenders made tunnels to blow up the Spanish tunnels. The Spanish army dug two tunnels to reach the city walls and collapse them. During the first two months of the siege, the situation was in balance. In the Middle Ages it was unusual to fight in the winter, but the city of Haarlem was crucial and Don Fadrique stayed and put the town under siege. However, the existence of the Haarlemmermeer (a great lake) nearby made it difficult for the enemy to cut off the transportation of food into the city completely. The area around the city could not be inundated, and offered the enemy many places to set up camp. Although the city was completely surrounded by walls, they were not in good shape. The city was not very strong, militarily speaking. On 11 December 1572 the Spanish army laid siege to Haarlem. The spanish troops and their camps are depicted in the foreground Under siege Wigbolt Ripperda inspiring the citizens of Haarlem in the Doelen not to give in to the Spanish army. Bird's eye view of Haarlem and its surroundings during the Siege (south up), in a copper engraving published in 1573 by Antonio Lafreri. The Sint-Bavokerk (Saint Bavo Church) was cleared of Roman Catholic symbols the same day. When the deputation came back from Amsterdam, they were convicted as traitors and sent to the Prince. The city's administration was replaced with pro-Orange citizens. He strongly disapproved of negotiating with the Spanish army, called the city guard together, and convinced them to stay loyal to the Prince of Orange. The city's defenses were commanded by city-governor Wigbolt Ripperda, a commander put in charge by William the Silent, the Prince of Orange. The city administration of Haarlem sent a deputation of 4 people to Amsterdam to attempt to negotiate with Don Fadrique. On 17 November 1572 all citizens of the city of Zutphen were murdered by the Spanish army, and on 1 December the city of Naarden suffered the same fate.
The ruler of Spain was not pleased, and sent an army north under command of Don Fadrique ( Don Frederick in Dutch), son of the Duke of Alva. However, after much political debate the city officially turned against Philip II on 4 July 1572. Most city administrators-unlike many citizens-did not favor open revolution against Philip II of Spain, who had inherited rule of the Netherlands from his father, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. When the city of Brielle was conquered by the Geuzen revolutionary army on 1 April, Haarlem did not initially support the Geuzen.
It managed to escape from the Reformed iconoclasm in 1566 that affected other cities in the Netherlands. The city of Haarlem initially held a moderate view in the religious war that was going on in the Netherlands. The resistance nonetheless was taken as an heroic example by the Orangists at the sieges of Alkmaar and Leiden. After the naval battle of Haarlemmermeer and the defeat of a land relief force, the starving city surrendered and the garrison was massacred. From 11 December 1572 to 13 July 1573 an army of Philip II of Spain laid bloody siege to the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands, whose loyalties had begun wavering during the previous summer. The siege of Haarlem was an episode of the Eighty Years' War.
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