Dutch Revolt
Otto van Veen: Relief of Leiden (1574). Starved citizens feast on herring and white bread after the siege was lifted.
Date 1568 - 1648 Location The Low Countries (worldwide colonial warfare) Result Treaty of Münster; Independence of the Dutch Republic
Combatants
Dutch rebels	Spanish Empire

The Dutch Revolt, Eighty Years' War or The Revolt of the Netherlands (1568^[1]–1648), was the revolt of the Seventeen Provinces in the Low Countries against the Spanish (Habsburg) Empire. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 519 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1038 pixel, file size: 324 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Faithful reproductions of two-dimensional original works cannot attract copyright in the U.S. according to the rule in Bridgeman Art Library v. ... Otto van Veen, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, c. ... It has been suggested that Regents: Low Countries be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Wars of national liberation. ... The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster by Gerard Terborch (1648) Banquet of the Amsterdam Civic Guard in Celebration of the Peace of Münster by Bartholomeus van der Helst, 1648 Known also as the treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, The Peace of Westphalia is the series... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ... Image File history File links Prinsenvlag. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Spain. ... An anachronous map of the Spanish Empire (1492-1898). ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Jan de Marnix van Aldegonde † de Beauvoir Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 700–800 dead Unknown The Battle of Oosterweel took place on March 13, 1567, and is traditionally seen as the beginning of the Eighty Years War. ... The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt from 1568 to 1648 was the secession war in which the proto-Netherlands first became an independent country and in which the region now known as Belgium became established. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Friesland Commanders Louis of Nassau Adolf of Nassau † Johan de Ligne Strength 3,900 infantry 200 cavalry 3,200 infantry 20 cavalry Casualties 50 dead or wounded 1,500 – 2,000 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Heiligerlee in Groningen on 23 May 1568 was... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Louis of Nassau Duke of Alva Strength 10,000 infantry 2,000 cavalry 16 guns 12,000 infantry 3,000 cavalry Casualties 7,000 dead or wounded 300 dead or wounded After the Battle of Heiligerlee Louis of Nassau failed to capture the city Groningen. ... The Battle of Jodoigne was fought in 1568 between Spanish and Dutch forces. ... The Capture of Brielle by the Gueux de mer on 1 April 1572 marked a turning point in the uprising of the Low Countries against Spain in the Eighty Years War. ... In the Eighty Years War the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands was put under a bloody siege by a Spanish army that wanted to reclaim the revolted city for Philip II, the Spanish king. ... The Battle of Flushing was a naval battle of the Eighty Years War, fought on April 17, 1573 near the city of Flushing, Netherlands. ... The Battle of Borsele (April 22th 1573) was a naval battle during the Eighty Years War between a Spanish fleet commanded by Sancho dAvila (Which sailed from the port of Antwerp) and a Gueux fleet under Admiral Worst. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Cornelis Jansz Dircksz Maximilian de Henin Count of Bossu Strength 24 ships, 700 sailors 30 ships, 1300 sailors Casualties Unknown 6 ships captured by the Dutch – 300 sailors taken prisoner The Battle on the Zuiderzee (October 11th 1573) was a naval battle during the Eighty... The Siege of Alkmaar was a turning point in the Eighty Years War. ... The siege of Leiden occured during the Eighty Years War in 1573 and 1574. ... The Battle of Reimerswaal (January 29th 1574) was a naval battle during the Eighty Years War between a Dutch and a Spanish fleet. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Louis of Nassau † Henry of Nassau † Sancho dAvilla Strength 5,500 infantry 2,600 cavalry 5,000 infantry 800 cavalry Casualties 3,000 dead or wounded 150 dead or wounded {{{notes}}} The Battle of Mookerheyde was a battle of the Eighty Years War fought... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Unknown Alexander of Parma Casualties 10,000 dead, wounded, or captured 100 dead or wounded The Battle of Gembloux marked a terrible defeat for the Protestant rebels fighting against Spain in the Eighty Years War. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spain Commanders Burghers of Maastricht Alexander Farnese Strength 2,000 soldiers and some militia. ... In 1581 Spanish troops under the command of Claude de Berlaimont, lord of Haultepenne, took Breda by surprise thanks to a sentry who had been bribed by a follower of the king, Charles de Gavre, who was kept a prisoner at the castle. ... The naval Battle of Punta Delgada, also called the Battle of Terceira, took place on July 26, 1582 during the Eighty Years War that resulted in the defeat of a combined Dutch, English, Portuguese, and French Huguenot fleet by a Spanish fleet under Santa Cruz. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Battle of Boksum (January 17th 1586) was a battle during the Eighty Years War between a Spanish and a Dutch rebel army (largely comprised of Frisians) commanded by Willem Lodewijk of Nassau, a nephew of William of Orange. ... Combatants Dutch rebels, English soldiers Spain Commanders  ?  ? Strength  ?  ? Casualties  ?  ? The battle of Zutphen was a confrontation of the Eighty Years War on September 22, 1586, in Zutphen, the Netherlands. ... The first Siege of Bergen op Zoom were a series of 3 surpirse attacks by the Duke of Parma lasting from September 23th till November 13th 1588. ... For the modern navy of Spain, see Armada Española. ... The peat ship. ... Battle of Turnhout, 1597. ... Combatants United Provinces Spain Commanders Maurits of Nassau Archduke Albrecht of Austria Strength 9,500 infantry 1,400 cavalry 14 guns 6,000 infantry 1,200 cavalry 9 guns Casualties 1,700 dead or wounded 3,000 dead or wounded 600 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Nieuwpoort, between a Dutch... Combatants United Provinces Spain Commanders Francis Vere Archduke Albrecht Ambrosio Spinola Strength Unknown Unknown Casualties 30,000 dead or wounded 15,000 captured 55,000 dead or wounded The Siege of Ostend was a three year siege which resulted in a Spanish victory. ... The Battle of Sluis was a naval battle during the Eighty Years War in which a Dutch fleet defeated a Spanish squadron led by the Portuguese captain Federico Spinola. ... The Siege of Bergen-op-Zoom (1622) was a battle during the Eighty Years War. ... Combatants United Provinces Spain Commanders Maurice of Nassau Ernst von Mansfeld Ambrosio Spinola Strength 14,000 18. ... The Battle in the Bay of Matanzas was a naval battle during the Eighty Years War in which a Dutch squadron was able to defeat and capture a Spanish treasure fleet. ... The Siege of s-Hertogenbosch was a battle of the Eighty Years War in which a Dutch Republican army captured the city of s Hertogenbosch which had been loyal to the King of Spain. ... The Capture of Maastricht describes the siege of the city by the Dutch commanded by Frederick Henry and the revolts in and around Maastricht itself during the Eighty Years War. ... Combatants United Provinces Spain Commanders Maurice of Nassau Ernst von Mansfeld Ambrosio Spinola Strength 14,000 18. ... The Battle of Kallo (June 20th 1638) was a battle of the Eighty Years War it took place when a Dutch army tried to surround the city of Antwerp. ... Combatants Iberian Union United Provinces Commanders Antonio DOquendo Maarten Tromp Strength 77 ships 117 ships Casualties 6,000 dead 43 ships destroyed or captured 1000 dead 10 ship burned Dutch Revolt Oosterweel – Rheindalen – Heiligerlee – Jemmingen – Jodoigne – Brielle – Haarlem – Flushing – Borsele – Zuiderzee – Alkmaar – Leiden – Reimerswaal – Mookerheyde – Gembloux – Maastricht – 1st Breda... The Siege of Hulst (1645) was the last major siege of the Eighty Years War, in which the heavily fortified town of Hulst was conquered by Dutch troops commanded by Frederick Henry after 28 days. ... Battle of Puerto de Cavite was a fought as an extension of the Eighty Years War between Spanish and the Dutch in the orient. ... Flag of the Seventeen Provinces The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of the West of... It has been suggested that Regents: Low Countries be merged into this article or section. ... During the reign of Emperor Charles V (Carlos I of Spain), who ascended the thrones of the kingdoms of Spain after the death of his grandfather Ferdinand, Habsburg Spain controlled territory ranging from Philippines to the Netherlands, and was, for a time, Europes greatest power. ...

Spain was initially successful in suppressing the rebellion. In 1572, however, the rebels captured Brielle and the rebellion resurged. The northern provinces became independent, first de facto, and in 1648 de jure. During the revolt, the United Provinces of the Netherlands, better known as the Dutch Republic, rapidly grew to become a world power through its merchant shipping and experienced a period of economic, scientific, and cultural growth. Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 31. ... De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Map of Dutch Republic by Joannes Janssonius United Netherlands redirects here. ...

The Southern Netherlands (situated in modern-day Belgium, Luxembourg and Northern France) remained under Spanish rule. The continuous repression by the Spanish in the south caused many of its financial, intellectual, and cultural elite to flee north, contributing to the success of the Dutch Republic. Additionally, by the end of the war in 1648 large areas of the Southern Netherlands had been lost to France. The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain (Spanish Netherlands, 1579-1713), Austria (Austrian Netherlands, 1713-1794) and France (1794-1815). ...

The first phase of the conflict can be considered to be the Dutch War of Independence. The focus of the latter phase was to gain official recognition of the already de facto independence of the United Provinces. This phase coincided with the rise of the Dutch Republic as a major power and the founding of the Dutch colonial empire. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dutch Empire. ...

Background

European territories under the rule of the Spanish king around 1580 (the Netherlands in light green) on a map showing modern-day state borders.

17 Netherlands prior to the Dutch rebellion

In a series of marriages and conquests, a succession of dukes of Burgundy expanded their original territory by adding to it a series of fiefdoms, including the Seventeen Provinces.^[2] Although Burgundy itself had been lost to France in 1477, the Burgundian Netherlands were still intact when Charles V was born in Ghent. He was raised in the Netherlands and spoke fluent Dutch, French, Spanish, and some German.^[3] In 1506 he became lord of the Burgundian states, among which were the Netherlands. Subsequently, in 1516, he inherited several titles, including the combined kingdoms of Aragon, and Castile and Leon which had become a worldwide empire with the Spanish colonization of the Americas. In 1519 he became ruler of the Habsburg empire, and he gained the title Holy Roman Emperor in 1530.^[4] Image File history File links Spanish_Empire_around_1580. ... Image File history File links Spanish_Empire_around_1580. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 539 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (591 × 657 pixel, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/png) [[Media:--24. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 539 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (591 × 657 pixel, file size: 142 KB, MIME type: image/png) [[Media:--24. ... Cross of Burgundy Flag The Duchy of Burgundy, today Bourgogne, has its origin in the small portion of traditional lands of Burgundians west of river Saône which in 843 was allotted to Charles the Balds kingdom of West Franks. ... Flag of the Seventeen Provinces The Seventeen Provinces were a personal union of states in the Low Countries in the 15th century and 16th century, roughly covering the current Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, a good part of the North of France (Artois, Nord) and a small part of the West of... Coat of arms of the second Duchy of Burgundy and later of the French province of Burgundy Burgundy (French: ; German: ) is a historic region of France, inhabited in turn by Celts (Gauls), Romans (Gallo-Romans), and various Germanic peoples, most importantly the Burgundians and the Franks; the former gave their... For the Carlist claimant King Carlos V, see Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. ... Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province East Flanders Arrondissement Ghent Coordinates , , Area 156. ... Capital Zaragoza Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 4th  47,719 km²  9. ... Capital Valladolid Area  – Total  – % of Spain Ranked 1st  94,223 km²  18,6% Population  – Total (2003)  – % of Spain  – Density Ranked 6th  2,480,369  5. ... The Spanish colonization of the Americas began with the arrival in the Western Hemisphere of Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) in 1492. ... Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ... The Holy Roman Emperor was, with some variation, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, the predecessor of modern Germany, during its existence from the 10th century until its collapse in 1806. ...

Taxation

Flanders had long been a very wealthy region, and had been coveted by the French kings for a long time. The other Netherlands had also grown into wealthy and entrepreneurial regions within the Habsburg empire.^[5] Under Charles V the Habsburg empire became a worldwide empire with large American and European territories. The latter were, however, distributed throughout Europe. Control and defence of which were hampered by the disparateness of the territories and huge length of its borders. This large realm was almost continuously at war with its neighbours in its European heartlands: most notably against France in the Italian Wars and against the Turks in the Mediterranean Sea. Further wars were fought against Protestant princes in Germany. The Netherlands paid heavy taxes to fund these wars,^[6] but perceived them as unnecessary and sometimes downright harmful, because they were directed against their most important trading partners. For other uses, see Flanders (disambiguation). ... For the sequel to the computer game Entrepreneur, which has no article of its own, see The Corporate Machine. ... Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy; also used as the flag of the Austrian Empire until the Ausgleich of 1867. ... For the Carlist claimant King Carlos V, see Infante Carlos, Count of Molina. ... Combatants France, the Holy Roman Empire, the states of Italy (notably the Republic of Venice, the Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples, the Papal States, Florence, and the Duchy of Ferrara), England, Scotland, Spain, the Ottoman Empire, the Swiss, Saxony, and others The Italian Wars, often referred to as... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ...

Protestantism

During the 16th century, Protestantism rapidly gained ground in northern Europe. Dutch Protestants, after initial repression, were tolerated by local authorities.^[7] By the 1560s, the Protestant community had become a significant influence in the Netherlands, although their number still is subject of debate. ^[8][9] In a society dependent on trade, freedom and tolerance were considered essential. Nevertheless, Charles V, and later Philip II, felt it was their duty to fight Protestantism,^[4] which was considered a heresy by the Catholic Church. The harsh measures led to increasing grievances in the Netherlands, where the local governments had embarked on a course of peaceful coexistence. In the second half of the century, the situation escalated. Philip sent troops to crush the rebellion and make the Netherlands once more a Catholic region.^[10] Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, king consort of England (as husband of Mary I) from 1554 to 1558, Lord... Look up Heresy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Dutch Protestants compared their humble values favorably against the luxurious habits of the ecclesiastical nobility. The Protestant movement emphasized Christian virtues of modesty, cleanliness, frugality, and hard work. Symbolic stories from the New Testament, featuring fishermen, shipbuilders, and other simple occupations, resonated among the Dutch. The moral elements of the rebellion represented a challenge to the Spanish Empire. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... “Cleanup” redirects here. ... Frugality (also known as thrift or thriftiness), often confused with cheapness or miserliness, is a traditional value, life style, or belief system, in which individuals practice both restraint in the acquiring of and resourceful use of economic goods and services in order to achieve lasting and more fulfilling goals. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... A moral is a one sentence remark made at the end of many childrens stories that expresses the intended meaning, or the moral message, of the tale. ... An anachronous map of the Spanish Empire (1492-1898). ...

Centralization

The Seventeen Netherlands, the theatre of the war. Drawn as Leo Belgicus

Part of the shifting balance of power in the late Middle Ages, meant that besides the local nobility, many of the Dutch administrators by now were not traditional aristocrats, but instead stemmed from non-noble families that had risen in status over the last centuries.^[11] Against this the collection of the scattered aristocratic realms in personal unions under, for example, the Burgundy dukes, allocated more than ever to the high nobility and their governors. By the fifteenth century, Brussels had thus become the de facto capital of the Seventeen Provinces. Image File history File links Leo_belgicus. ... Image File history File links Leo_belgicus. ... Claes Jansz. ... Aristocracy is a form of government in which rulership is in the hands of an upper class known as aristocrats. ... For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ...

Dating back to the Middle Ages the districts of the Netherlands, represented by its nobility and the wealthy merchant cities still had a large measure of autonomy in appointing its administratours. Charles V and Philip II set out to improve the management of the empire by increasing the authority of the central government in matters like law and taxes,^[11] a policy which caused suspicion both among the nobility and the merchant class. An example of this is the takeover of power in the city of Utrecht in 1528 when Charles V supplanted the council of guild masters governing the city by a regent, and commanded the construction of the heavily armed castle of Vredenburg to control the citizens.^[12]
Utrecht ( (help· info)) is a municipality and the capital city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. ... A guild is an association of craftspeople in a particular trade. ... Castle Vredenburg or VredenBorch was built in the early 16th century by Charles V in Utrecht (Netherlands). ...

Initial stages (1555-1572)

Prelude to the rebellion (1555-1568)

Philip II, King of Spain

In 1556 Charles passed on his throne to his son Philip II of Spain.^[4] Charles, despite his harsh actions, had been seen as a ruler empathetic to the needs of the Netherlands. Philip, on the other hand, was raised in Spain and spoke neither Dutch nor French. During Philip's reign, tensions flared in the Netherlands over heavy taxation, suppression of Protestantism, and centralisation efforts. The growing conflict would reach a boiling point and would lead ultimately to the war of independence. Philip II by Titian from [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Philip II by Titian from [1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, king consort of England (as husband of Mary I) from 1554 to 1558, Lord...

Nobility in opposition

In an effort to build a stable and trustworthy government of the Netherlands, Philip appointed several members of the high nobility of the Netherlands to the States General; the governing body of the seventeen Netherlands. He put his confidante Granvelle as head of the States General. Furthermore, he appointed Margaret of Parma as governor of the Netherlands.^[4] However already in 1558 the states started to contradict Philip’s wishes, by objecting to his tax proposals and demanding the withdrawal of Spanish troops. Subsequent reforms met with much opposition, which was mainly directed at Granvelle. Petitions to king Philip by the high nobility went unanswered. Some of the most influential nobles, including the count of Egmont, the count of Horne, and William of Orange, withdrew from the States General until Philip recalled Granvelle.^[4] In late 1564, the nobles had noticed the growing power of the reformation and urged Philip to come up with realistic measures to prevent violence. Philip answered that sterner oppression could be the only answer. Subsequently Egmont, Horne and Orange withdrew once more from the States General and Bergen and Meghem resigned their Stadholdership.^[4] During the same period, the religious protests were increasing in spite of increased oppression. In 1566, a league of about 400 members of the high nobility presented a petition to the governor Margaret of Parma, to suspend persecution until the rest had returned. Count Berlaymont called the presentation of this petition an act of 'beggars' (French gueux), a name taken up as an honour by the petitioners (Geuzen). The petition was sent on to Philip for a final verdict.^[4] The word States-General, or Estates-General, refers in English to : the Etats-G raux of France before the French Revolution the Staten-Generaal of the Netherlands. ... Granvelle, portrait by Antonio Moro (1549) Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (August 20, 1517 - September 21, 1586) was one of the most influential of the church leaders during the time which immediately followed the appearance of Protestantism in Europe. ... Margaret of Parma (28 December 1522 - 18 January 1586), duchess of Parma and regent of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V. Her mother, Johanna Maria von der Gheest, a servant of Charles de Lalaing, Seigneur de Montigny, was a Fleming. ... Count of Egmont Lamoral, Count of Egmont (November 18, 1522 - June 5, 1568) was a general and statesman in Flanders just before the start of the Eighty Years War. ... Categories: Stub | Eighty Years War | Admirals ... William of Orange (French: Guillaume, Dutch: Willem) is the name of several historical people. ... Margaret of Parma (28 December 1522 - 18 January 1586), duchess of Parma and regent of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567, was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V. Her mother, Johanna Maria von der Gheest, a servant of Charles de Lalaing, Seigneur de Montigny, was a Fleming. ... The Watergeuzen (or simply Geuzen) were a fleet of privateers during the Eighty Years War, the Low Countries (or Netherlands) rebellion against the Spanish occupation, which began during the reign of Philip II of Spain (in the 1550s). ...

1566 - Iconoclasm and repression

The atmosphere in the Netherlands was tense due to the rebellion preaching of Calvinist leaders, hunger after the bad harvest of 1565, and economic difficulties due to the Northern Seven Years' War. Early August 1566, a mob stormed the church of Hondschoote in Flanders (now in Northern France).^[13] This relatively small incident spread North and led to a massive iconoclastic movement by Calvinists, who stormed churches to destroy statues and images of Catholic saints all over the Netherlands. According to the Calvinists, these statues represented worship of idols.^[4] Nobody stepped in to rein in the vandalism of the Calvinists. Even before he answered the petition by the nobles, Philip had lost control in the troublesome Netherlands. He saw no other option than to send an army to suppress the rebellion. On 22 August 1567, Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba, marched into Brussels at the head of 10,000 troops.^[14] // Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded. ... Frederick II of Denmark attacking Älvsborg, 1563 The Northern Seven Years War (also known as the Nordic Seven Years War, the First Northern War or the Seven Years War in Scandinavia) was the war between Sweden and a coalition of Denmark-Norway, Lubeck and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, fought between 1563... Hondschoote is a commune of the Nord département, in northern France. ... Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, attacked in Reformation iconoclasm in the 16th century. ... In traditional Christian iconography, Saints are often depicted as having halos. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The Duke of Alva arrives in the Netherlands with Spanish forces to suppress unrest there. ... Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba. ...

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba

Alba took harsh measures and rapidly established a special court (Raad van Beroerten or council of upheavals) to judge anyone who opposed the king. No one, not even high nobility who had been pleading for less harsh measures, was safe. Alba considered himself the direct representative of Philip in the Netherlands and frequently bypassed Margaret of Parma and made use of her to lure back some of the fugitive nobles, notably the counts of Egmont and Horne, causing her to resign office in September 1567.^[15] Egmont and Horne were arrested for high treason, condemned, and a year later decapitated on the Grand Place in Brussels. Egmont and Horne had been Catholic nobles who were loyal to the King of Spain until their death. The reason for their execution was that Alba considered they had been treasonous to the king in their tolerance to Protestantism. Their death, ordered by a Spanish noble, rather than a local court, provoked outrage throughout the Netherlands. Over one thousand people were executed in the following months.^[3] The large number of executions led the court to be nicknamed the "Blood Court" in the Netherlands, and Alba to be called the "iron duke". Rather than pacifying the Netherlands, these measures helped to fuel the unrest. Francisco Vásquez de Coronado This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Francisco Vásquez de Coronado This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Count of Egmont Lamoral, Count of Egmont (November 18, 1522 - June 5, 1568) was a general and statesman in Flanders just before the start of the Eighty Years War. ... Count of Hoorn Philip de Montmorency (1524-June 5, 1568) was also known as Count of Horne. ... Decapitation (from Latin, caput, capitis, meaning head), or beheading, is the removal of a living organisms head. ... A view of Lange (The Angel) on the Grand Place The Grand Place (French: Grand-Place or Grand Place, Dutch: Grote Markt) is the central market square of Brussels. ...

William I of Orange.

Portrait of William of Orange by A.Th. ... Portrait of William of Orange by A.Th. ...

William of Orange

Main article: William the Silent

William I of Orange was stadtholder of the provinces Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht, and Margrave of Antwerp; and the most influential noble in the States General who had signed the petition. After the arrival of Alba, to prevent arrest, as happened to Egmont and Horne, he fled from the Burgundian Empire to the lands ruled by his wife's father — the Count-Elector of Saxony. All his lands and titles in the Netherlands were forfeited by the Spanish king. William I (William the Silent). ... William I (William the Silent) William I, Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau (April 24, 1533 – July 10, 1584) was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. ... A stadtholder (Dutch: stadhouder meaning place holder, a Germanic parallel to Latin locum tenens or French lieutenant), means an official who is appointed by the legal ruling Monarch to represent him in a country, and may have a mandate to govern it in his name, in the latter case roughly... This article is about a region in the Netherlands. ... Capital Middelburg Largest city Terneuzen Queens Commissioner Karla Peijs Religion (1999) Protestant 35% Catholic 23% Area  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water   1,788 km² (10th) 1,146 km² Population (2006)  â€¢ Total  â€¢ Density 380,186 (11th) 213/km² (10th) Anthem Zeeuws volkslied ISO NL-ZE Official website www. ... Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands, and is located in the center of the country. ... Margrave (Latin: marchio) is the English and French form (recorded since 1551) of the German title Markgraf (from Mark march and Graf count) and certain equivalent nobiliary (princely) titles in other languages. ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... Anna of Saxony (December 23, 1544-December 18, 1577) was the only child and heiress of Maurice, Elector of Saxony, and Agnes of Hesse. ... A count is a nobleman in most European countries, equivalent in rank to a British earl, whose wife is also still a countess (for lack of an Anglo-Saxon term). ... The prince-electors or electoral princes of the Holy Roman Empire — German: Kurfürst ( - singular), Kurfürsten (plural) — were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Emperors of Germany. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

In 1568, William returned to try and drive the highly unpopular Duke of Alba from Brussels. He did not see this as an act of treason against the king (Philip II), but as an option for appeasement with the Spanish king. William's actions, disposing of ill-informed councillors like Alba, would allow the king to take up his legal place once more. This view is reflected in today's Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus, in which the last lines of the first stanza read: den koning van Hispanje heb ik altijd geëerd (I have always honoured the king of Spain). In pamphlets and in his correspondence to allies in the Netherlands William also called attention to the right of subjects to renounce their oath of obedience if the sovereign would not respect their privileges.^[16] An attempt was made to encroach on the Netherlands from four different directions, with armies led by his brothers invading from Germany and with French Huguenots invading from the south. Although the Battle of Rheindalen near Roermond occurred already on 23 April 1568 and was won by the Spanish, the Battle of Heiligerlee, fought on 23 May 1568, is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Eighty Years' War, and it resulted in a victory for the rebel army. The campaign then ended in failure as William ran out of money and his army dissipated, while those of his allies were destroyed by Alba. For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ... Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II de Habsburgo; Portuguese: Filipe I) (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, king consort of England (as husband of Mary I) from 1554 to 1558, Lord... An anthem is a composition to an English religious text sung in the context of an Anglican service. ... Het Wilhelmus (The William [viz. ... The Spanish monarchy, referred to as the Crown of Spain (Corona de España) in the Spanish Constitution of 1978, is the office of the King or Queen of Spain. ... In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name of Huguenots came to apply to members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, or historically as the French Calvinists. ... The Eighty Years War, or Dutch Revolt from 1568 to 1648 was the secession war in which the proto-Netherlands first became an independent country and in which the region now known as Belgium became established. ... Country Netherlands Province Limburg Area (2006)  - Municipality 46. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... Combatants Dutch rebels Spanish Friesland Commanders Louis of Nassau Adolf of Nassau † Johan de Ligne Strength 3,900 infantry 200 cavalry 3,200 infantry 20 cavalry Casualties 50 dead or wounded 1,500 – 2,000 dead, wounded, or captured The Battle of Heiligerlee in Groningen on 23 May 1568 was... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ...

William of Orange stayed at large and, being the only one of the grandees still able to offer resistance, was from then on seen as the leader of the rebellion. When the revolt broke out once more in 1572 he moved his court back to the Netherlands, to Delft in Holland, as the ancestral lands of Orange in Breda remained occupied by the Spanish. Delft remained William's base of operations until his assassination by Balthasar Gérard in 1584. Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 24. ... This article is about a region in the Netherlands. ... Balthasar Gérard (in Dutch Gerards or Gerardts) (1557-1584) was the assassin of the Dutch independence leader, William the Silent, also known as William I of Orange. ...

Resurgence (1572–1585)

Spain was hampered by the fact that it had to wage war on different fronts simultaneously. The war that it was fighting against the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean Sea put serious limits on the military power it could employ against the rebels in the Netherlands. Even so, by 1570 the Spanish had mostly suppressed the rebellion throughout the Netherlands. However, in March 1569, in an effort to finance his troops, Alba had proposed to the States to introduce new taxes, among which the "Tenth Penny", a 10 per cent levy on all sales other than landed property. This proposal was rejected by the States, and a compromise was subsequently agreed upon. Then, in 1571, Alba decided to press forward with the collection of the Tenth Penny regardless of the States' opposition.^[17] This aroused great protest from both Catholics and Protestants, and support for the rebels grew once more and was kindled by a large group of refugees who had fled the country during Alba's rule. On March 1, 1572, the British Queen Elizabeth I ousted the Gueux, known as Sea Beggars, from the English harbours in an attempt to appease the Spanish king. The Gueux under their leader Lumey then unexpectedly captured the almost undefended town of Brielle on April 1. In securing Brielle, the rebels had gained a foothold, and more importantly a token victory in the north. This was a sign for Protestants all over the Low Countries to rebel once more.^[3] “Ottoman” redirects here. ... Composite satellite image of the Mediterranean Sea. ... is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 16 - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603 ) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... The Sea Beggars were an international group of anti-Spanish exiles and criminals, among them many Englishmen. ... William II de la Marck (1542–1578) (Dutch: Willem II van der Marck) was Lord of Lumey and initially admiral of the Gueux de mer, the so-called sea beggars who fought in the Eighty Years War (1568–1648), together with among others William the Silent, Prince of Orange-Nassau. ... Coordinates: , Country Netherlands Province South Holland Area (2006)  - Municipality 31. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Most of the important cities in the provinces of Holland and Zealand declared loyalty to the rebels. Notable exceptions were Amsterdam and Middelburg, who remained loyal to the Catholic cause until 1578. William of Orange was put at the head of the revolt. He was recognized Governor-General and Stadholder of Holland, Zeeland, Friesland and Utrecht at a meeting in Dordrecht in July 1572. It was agreed upon that the power would be shared between Orange and the States.^[18] With the influence of the rebels rapidly growing in the northern provinces, the war entered a second and more decisive phase. For other uses, see Amsterdam (disambiguation). ... Coordinates: , Country Province Area (2006)  - Municipality 53. ... Satellite image of part of the Rhine-Meuse delta, showing the Island of Dordrecht and the eponymous city (7) Dordrecht (population 119,649 (2004)), or in English: Dort, is a city in the Dutch province of South Holland, the third largest city of the province. ...

However, this also led to an increased discord amongst the Dutch. On one side there was a militant Calvinist minority that wanted to continue fighting the Catholic Philip II and convert all Dutch citizens to Calvinism. On the other end was a mostly Catholic minority that wanted to remain loyal to the landguardian (Dutch: landvoogd) and the Dutch government below him. In between was the large majority of (Catholic) Dutch that had no particular allegiance, but mostly wanted to restore Dutch privileges and the expulsion of the Spanish mercenary armies. This explains why the revolt would fall apart later.^{[citation needed]} William of Orange was the central figure that had to direct these groups to a common goal. In the end he was forced to move more and more towards the radical Calvinist side, because the Calvinists were most fanatic in fighting the Spanish. He converted to Calvinism himself in 1573.^[19]

Pacification of Ghent

Being unable to deal with the rebellion, Alba was replaced in 1573 by Luis de Requesens and a new policy of moderation was attempted. Spain, however, had to declare bankruptcy in 1575. De Requesens had not managed to broker a policy acceptable to both the Spanish king and the Netherlands when he died in early 1576. The inability to pay the Spanish mercenary armies endured, leading to numerous mutinies and in November 1576 troops sacked Antwerp at the cost of some 8,000 lives. This so-called "Spanish Fury" strengthened the resolve of the rebels in the 17 provinces to take fate into their own hands. Luís de Zúñiga y Requesens (? - March 5, 1576), Spanish governor of the Netherlands, had the misfortune to succeed the duke of Alva and to govern amid hopeless difficulties under the direction of Philip II. During his rule, the Spanish troops mutinied and Spain went bankrupt. ... The sack of Antwerp during the Eighty Years War is known as the Spanish Fury. ...

The Netherlands negotiated an internal treaty, the Pacification of Ghent, in which the provinces agreed to religious tolerance and pledged to fight together against the mutinous Spanish forces. For the mostly Catholic provinces, the destruction by mutinous foreign troops was the principal reason to join in an open revolt, but formally the provinces still remained loyal to the landlord Philip II. However, some religious hostilities continued and Spain, aided by shipments of bullion from the New World, was able to send a new army under Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza.^[3] The Pacification of Ghent, signed on November 8 of 1576, was an alliance of the provinces of the Netherlands for the purpose of driving the Spanish from the country. ... A precious metal is a rare metallic element of high, durable economic value. ... Frontispiece of Peter Martyr dAnghieras De orbe novo (On the New World). Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, 1722. ... Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1545 - 1592) was the son of Duke Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margaret, the illegitimate daughter of the Habsburg Emperor Charles V. Thus Alessandro was the nephew of Philip II of Spain and of Don John of Austria. ...

1579 Map of the Netherlands indicating the Unions of Utrecht (blue) and Atrecht (yellow)

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (599x687, 173 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (599x687, 173 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ...

Unions of Arras and Utrecht

On January 6, 1579, prompted by the new Spanish governor Alexander Farnese (Duke of Parma) and upset by aggressive Calvinism of the Northern States, some of the Southern States, the so-called Walloon Flanders located in what is now France and Wallonia, signed the Union of Arras (Atrecht), expressing their loyalty to the Spanish king. This meant the end of the cooperation aimed at a level of independence among the 17 Netherlands, agreed upon only three years previously in the pacification of Ghent. is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ... The Duchy of Parma was a small Italian state between 1545 and 1802, and again from 1814 to 1860. ... Coat of arms of the Counts of Flanders The Walloon Flanders (in French Flandre wallonne) is a part of the County of Flanders. ... Wallonia (French: Wallonie, German: Wallonien, Walloon: Walonreye, Dutch: Wallonië) or the Walloon Region (French: Région Wallonne, Dutch: Waals Gewest) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. ... Map of the Spanish Netherlands, the Union of Utrecht and the Union of Arras (1579). ... Arras (Dutch: Atrecht) is a city in northern France, préfecture (capital) of the Pas-de-Calais département. ...

In response to the union of Arras, William united the northern states of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders and the province of Groningen in the Union of Utrecht on January 23, 1579. Southern cities like Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp joined the Union of Utrecht. Effectively, the 17 provinces were now divided into a group loyal to the Spanish king, and a group in rebellion. Original coat of arms of the county and duchy of Guelders This article deals with the historical county and duchy of Guelders, for other meanings see Gelderland. ... The flag of Groningen Groningen is the northeast province of the Netherlands with a typical dialect (Gronings) with regional nuances. ... The Union of Utrecht (Dutch: Unie van Utrecht) is a treaty signed on January 23, 1579 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, unifying the northern provinces of the Netherlands, until then under control of Spain. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January 6 - The Union of Atrecht united the southern Netherlands under the Duke of Parma, governor in the name of king Philip II of Spain. ... Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province West Flanders Arrondissement Bruges Coordinates , , Area 138. ... Geography Country Belgium Community Flemish Community Region Flemish Region Province East Flanders Arrondissement Ghent Coordinates , , Area 156. ... For other places with the same name, see Brussels (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ...

Oath of Abjuration

In the late 16th century, it was not conceivable that a country could be governed by anyone but high nobility, if not a king, so the States General tried to find a suitable replacement for Philip. The Protestant Queen of England, Elizabeth I seemed the obvious choice to be protector of the Netherlands. Elizabeth, however, did not want to provoke Philip any more than necessary and declined the offer. Subsequently the States offered the younger brother of the French king, the Duke of Anjou, as sovereign ruler. Anjou accepted on the condition that the Netherlands officially denounce any loyalty to Philip. In 1581, the Oath of Abjuration was issued, in which the Netherlands proclaimed that the king of Spain had not upheld his responsibilities to the Netherlands population and would therefore no longer be accepted as rightful king. Anjou was, however, deeply distrusted by the population and he became increasingly bothered by the limited influence the States were willing to allow him. After some effort to increase his power by military action against the uncooperative cities, Anjou left the Netherlands in 1583. The States-General (Staten-Generaal) is the parliament of the Netherlands. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Hercule François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, (March 18, 1555 – June 19, 1584) was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de Medici. ... The Oath of Abjuration or Plakkaat van Verlatinghe of July 26, 1581, was the formal declaration of independence of the northern Low Countries from the Spanish king, Philip II. This point meant a climax in the Dutch Revolt, a point of no return, in which the Low Countries asserted they...

Elizabeth was now offered the sovereignty of the Netherlands, but she declined. All options for foreign royalty being exhausted, the civilian body States General eventually decided to rule as a republican body instead.

The fall of Antwerp

Assassination of William of Orange by Balthasar Gérard (1584).

Immediately after the oath of abjuration, Spain sent a new army to recapture the United Provinces. Over the following years, Parma reconquered the major part of Flanders and Brabant, as well as large parts of the northeastern provinces. The Roman Catholic religion was restored in much of this area. By 1585, Antwerp — the largest city in the Low Countries at the time — fell into his hands, which caused over half its population to flee to the north (see also Siege of Antwerp). Between 1565 and 1590, the population of Antwerp plummeted from 105,000 inhabitants to 40,000.^{[citation needed]} Download high resolution version (772x608, 68 KB)The murder on William the Silent by Balthazar Gerards. ... Download high resolution version (772x608, 68 KB)The murder on William the Silent by Balthazar Gerards. ... Balthasar Gérard (in Dutch Gerards or Gerardts) (1557-1584) was the assassin of the Dutch independence leader, William the Silent, also known as William I of Orange. ... Coat of arms of the Counts of Flanders (or a lion rampant sable, armed and langued gules). ... Brabant is a former duchy in the Low Countries, and a former province of Belgium. ... “Catholic Church” redirects here. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

William of Orange, who had been declared an outlaw by Philip II in March 1580,^[20] was assassinated by a supporter of the king on July 10, 1584. He would be succeeded as leader of the rebellion by his son Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. For other senses of this word, see outlaw (disambiguation). ... Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1584 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange - portrait by Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt Maurice of Nassau (Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ...

The Netherlands were split into an independent northern part, while the southern part remained under Spanish control. Due to the almost uninterrupted rule of the Calvinist-dominated separatists, most of the population of the northern provinces became converted to Protestantism over the next decades. The south, under Spanish rule, remained a Catholic stronghold; most of its Protestants fled to the north. Spain retained a large military presence in the south, where it could also be used against France.

De facto independence of the north (1585–1609)

With the war going against them, the United Provinces had sought help from the kingdoms of France and England. The Dutch had even offered each monarch the crown of the Netherlands, but both had declined.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

While England had unofficially been supporting the Dutch for years, Elizabeth now decided to intervene directly. In 1585, under the Treaty of Nonsuch, Elizabeth I sent the Earl of Leicester to take the rule as lord-regent, with 5,000 to 6,000 troops, including 1,000 cavalry. The Earl of Leicester proved to be a poor commander, and also did not understand the sensitive trade arrangements between the Dutch regents and the Spanish. Moreover, Leicester sided with the radical Calvinists, earning him the distrust of the Catholics and moderates. Leicester also collided with many Dutch patricians when he tried to strengthen his own power at the cost of the Provincial States. Within a year of his arrival, he had lost his public support. Leicester returned to England, after which the States-General, being unable to find any other suitable regent, appointed Maurice of Orange (William's son), at the age of 20, to the position of Captain General of the Dutch army in 1587. This desperate appointment soon proved to be the salvation of the pressured republic.^{[citation needed]} The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed by Elizabeth I of England and the Netherlands on August 20, 1585 at Nonsuch Palace in Surrey. ... This article is about Elizabeth I of England. ... Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (also referred to as Lord Leycester such as at the Lord Leycester Hospital. ... Maurice of Nassau (in Dutch Maurits van Nassau) (14 November 1567 – 23 April 1625), Prince of Orange (1618–1625), son of William the Silent and Princess Anna of Saxony, was born at the castle of Dillenburg. ... Captain General is a rank and a title. ...

Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange

The borders of the present-day Netherlands were largely defined by the campaigns of Maurice of Orange. The Dutch successes owed not only to his tactical skill but also to the financial burden Spain incurred replacing ships lost in the disastrous campaign of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and the need to refit its navy to recover control of the sea after the subsequent English counter attack. In 1595, when Henry IV of France declared war against Spain, the Spanish government declared bankruptcy again. However, by regaining control of the sea, Spain was able to greatly increase its supply of gold and silver from the Americas, which allowed it to increase military pressure on England and France. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (695x1000, 290 KB) (after) Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt: Maurice of Nassau, prince of Orange and Stadhouder Oil on canvas, 106 cm x 75 cm Château de Versailles, Versailles Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Maurice of... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (695x1000, 290 KB) (after) Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt: Maurice of Nassau, prince of Orange and Stadhouder Oil on canvas, 106 cm x 75 cm Château de Versailles, Versailles Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Maurice of... For the modern navy of Spain, see Armada Española. ... The English Armada (also known as the Counter Armada) was a fleet of warships sent to the Iberian coast by Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1589, during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) in an attempt to drive home the advantage won upon the defeat and dispersal of the... Henry IV of France, also Henry III of Navarre (13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), ruled as King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. ...

Under financial and military pressure, in 1598, Philip ceded the Netherlands to his favorite daughter Isabella and to her husband, Philip's nephew Archduke Albert of Austria, following the conclusion of the Treaty of Vervins with France. By that time Maurice was engaged in conquering important cities in the Netherlands. Starting with the important fortification of Bergen op Zoom (1588), Maurice conquered Breda (1590), Zutphen, Deventer, Delfzijl and Nijmegen (1591), Steenwijk, Coevorden (1592) Geertruidenberg (1593) Groningen (1594) Grol, Enschede, Ootmarsum, Oldenzaal (1597) and Grave (1602).^[21] As this campaign was restricted to the border areas of the current Netherlands, the heartland of Holland remained at peace, during which time it moved into its Golden age. Isabella Clara Eugenia, possibly around 1584 Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain (Segovia 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633) was Infanta of Spain, Archduchess of Austria and the joint sovereign of the Seventeen Provinces. ... Albert and his wife Isabella Archduke Albert Ernst of Austria (15 November 1559 – 13 July 1621) was appointed for the Spanish monarchy as Governor of the Low Countries in 1595, and from 1598 became joint sovereign of the Seventeen Provinces with his wife, the Isabella Clara Eugenia, daughter of Philip... The Peace of Vervins was signed between Henry IV of France and Philip II of Spain on May 2, 1598. ... Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. ... Grote Kerk (main church) or Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kerk (Church of Our Lady). ... Zutphen (old alternate spelling: Zutfen) is a municipality and a town in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands on the right bank of the IJssel at the influx of the Berkel, and a junction station 29 km by rail N.N.E. of Arnhem. ... Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. ... Satellite image of the Ems estuary showing the location of Delfzijl (left bank, center) Delfzijl is a municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands. ... Country Netherlands Province Gelderland Area (2006)  - Municipality 57. ... Steenwijkerland (before 2003 called Steenwijk) is a municipality in the eastern Netherlands. ... Coevorden ( (help· info)) is a municipality and a city in the northeastern Netherlands. ... Geertruidenberg ( (help· info)) is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. ... Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province Groningen Area (2006)  - Municipality 83. ... Groenlo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. ... Raadhuisstraat in Enschede, with the Grote Kerk in the background Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Enschede Enschede or Eanske in the local dialect (Twents) is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel, in the Twente region. ... Ootmarsum () is a town in the Dutch province of Overijssel. ... Oldenzaal is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands, near the border with Germany. ... Grave is a municipality and a city in the southern Netherlands. ... Rembrandt The Nightwatch (1642) The Golden Age (1584-1702) was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. ...

1600 - efforts to eliminate the naval threat of Dunkirker raiders lead to the Battle of Nieuwpoort

By now, it had become clear that Spanish control of the Southern Netherlands was strong. However, control over Zeeland meant that the Northern Netherlands could control and close the estuary of the Scheldt, the entry to the sea for the important port of Antwerp. The port of Amsterdam benefited greatly from the blockade of the port of Antwerp, to the extent that merchants in the North began to question the desirability of reconquering the South. A campaign to control the Southern provinces' coast region was launched against Maurice's advice in 1600. Although portrayed as a liberation of the Southern Netherlands, the campaign was chiefly aimed at eliminating the threat to Dutch trade posed by the Spanish-supported Dunkirker Raiders. The Spanish strengthened their positions along the coast, leading to the Battle of Nieuwpoort. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1098, 190 KB) Summary Maurice of Nassau at the Battle of Nieuwpoort by Pauwels van Hillegaert. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1098, 190 KB) Summary Maurice of Nassau at the Battle of Nieuwpoort by Pauwels van Hillegaert. ... The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French Escaut) is a 350 km[1] long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands. ... During the Dutch revolt (1568 - 1648) the Dunkirk Raiders (Dutch: Duinkerker kapers) were pirates in the service of the Spanish Empire operating from the city of Dunkirk. ... Combatants United Provinces Spain Commanders Maurits of Nassau Archduke Albrecht of Austria Strength 9,500 infantry 1,400 cavalry 14 guns 6,000 infantry 1,200 cavalry 9 guns Casualties 1,700 dead or wounded 3,000 dead or wounded 600 captured {{{notes}}} The Battle of Nieuwpoort, between a Dutch...