The end of the Dutch revolt.
During last decades of the Dutch revolt, the Dutch were slowly beating the Spanish and moving southwards, cities like Maastricht, Venlo, Roermond and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Spain was distracted not only by the Dutch revolt, but also by the religious wars in the Holy Roman Empire and the French who attacked the Southern Netherlands from the south. In 1637 the Dutch commander and stadholder Frederik Hendrik, the prince of Orange was laying a siege to Breda. During the siege disaster struck for the Spanish. The governor and military commander of the southern Netherlands, Don Ferdinand suddenly passed away. In the confusion that followed the Dutch managed to capture Breda and in 1638 moved south to Antwerp.
The successor of Don Ferdinand, Francisco de Melo concentrated mainly on the French troops, but still sent a force to relieve Antwerp, which was beaten by the Dutch. After a long siege Antwerp fell to the Dutch. From there the Dutch marched south, hoping to capture Ghent, but were beaten by the Spanish. From that moment the Dutch offensive concentrated on the north of Flanders, hoping to control both ends of the Schelde estuary, so they could use the port of Antwerp. In 1644 they captured Hulst and in 1645 Sas van Gent. In 1647 the Dutch moved to Bruges and manage to capture it, while a Spanish attack on Antwerp was beaten.
Near the end of the war in 1647 Frederik Hendrik died and his son Willem II succeeded him as stadholder of Holland and prince of Orange. His father had been known as “de stedendwinger”, because he had captured many cities. So Willem II wanted to prove he was as great as his father and attacked Ostend. The attack was beaten before it managed to capture Ostend and before he could launch another offensive. Peace was signed in 1648 in Münster. The Dutch revolt was over and the Dutch republic was officially independent, but much to Willem II chagrin Ostend and a large part of the southern Netherlands wasn’t part of it.
During last decades of the Dutch revolt, the Dutch were slowly beating the Spanish and moving southwards, cities like Maastricht, Venlo, Roermond and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Spain was distracted not only by the Dutch revolt, but also by the religious wars in the Holy Roman Empire and the French who attacked the Southern Netherlands from the south. In 1637 the Dutch commander and stadholder Frederik Hendrik, the prince of Orange was laying a siege to Breda. During the siege disaster struck for the Spanish. The governor and military commander of the southern Netherlands, Don Ferdinand suddenly passed away. In the confusion that followed the Dutch managed to capture Breda and in 1638 moved south to Antwerp.
The successor of Don Ferdinand, Francisco de Melo concentrated mainly on the French troops, but still sent a force to relieve Antwerp, which was beaten by the Dutch. After a long siege Antwerp fell to the Dutch. From there the Dutch marched south, hoping to capture Ghent, but were beaten by the Spanish. From that moment the Dutch offensive concentrated on the north of Flanders, hoping to control both ends of the Schelde estuary, so they could use the port of Antwerp. In 1644 they captured Hulst and in 1645 Sas van Gent. In 1647 the Dutch moved to Bruges and manage to capture it, while a Spanish attack on Antwerp was beaten.
Near the end of the war in 1647 Frederik Hendrik died and his son Willem II succeeded him as stadholder of Holland and prince of Orange. His father had been known as “de stedendwinger”, because he had captured many cities. So Willem II wanted to prove he was as great as his father and attacked Ostend. The attack was beaten before it managed to capture Ostend and before he could launch another offensive. Peace was signed in 1648 in Münster. The Dutch revolt was over and the Dutch republic was officially independent, but much to Willem II chagrin Ostend and a large part of the southern Netherlands wasn’t part of it.