diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 69bea786c9..416aeb8c08 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-v3.5.3 (XXXX-XX-XX)
+v3.5.3 (2019-11-28)
 -------------------
 
 * Fixed GET _api/gharial to also include the name property in every returned
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index bfedee8cc8..3df2d23ca2 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ set(ARANGODB_VERSION_MINOR "5")
 # when building the nightly ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH will be set
 if (NOT DEFINED ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH)
   set(ARANGODB_VERSION_PATCH "3")
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE "preview")
-  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER "1")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE "")
+  set(ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER "")
 else()
   unset (ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_TYPE) # do not remove space
   unset (ARANGODB_VERSION_RELEASE_NUMBER) # do not remove space
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index b6bf38c611..444877d48f 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3.5.3-preview.1
+3.5.3