Battle of Haarlemmermeer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Haarlemmermeer |
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| Part of the Eighty Years' War | |||||||
 Battle of Haarlemmermeer circa 1621 by Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, oil on canvas. Rijksmuseum. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Geuzen |
 Spain Amsterdam |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Marinus Brandt | Count of Bossu | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 150 warships | 100 warships | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 21 ships captured | Low | ||||||
The Battle of Haarlemmermeer was a sea battle fought on May 26, 1573. It happened during the early part of the Dutch War of Independence. This war was when the Dutch fought for their freedom from Spanish rule.
The battle took place on the Haarlemmermeer, which was a very large lake in the Netherlands at that time. Today, this lake has been drained and is dry land.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Haarlemmermeer?
This naval battle involved two main groups. One side was the Spanish fleet, joined by ships from the city of Amsterdam. At this time, Amsterdam was still loyal to Spain. Their commander was the Count of Bossu.
The other side was a fleet of rebellious Dutch fighters called the Geuzen. Their leader was Marinus Brandt. The Geuzen were trying to help the city of Haarlem, which was under attack by Spanish forces. They hoped to break the siege of Haarlem by sea.
How Did the Battle Unfold?
The two fleets fought for several hours on the lake. It was a tough fight between the Spanish and the Dutch rebels. In the end, the Geuzen were not able to win. They were forced to retreat from the battle. This meant the Spanish kept control of the lake.
Why Was This Battle Important?
The Battle of Haarlemmermeer was a victory for Spain. It showed that Spain still had strong control over the waterways. However, the Dutch continued their fight for independence. This battle was just one small part of the long Eighty Years' War.
Trivia
- Today, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is located on the land that used to be the Haarlemmermeer lake.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Haarlemmermeer para niños
