The
Battle of Nieuwpoort between the
Dutch and the
Spanish army took place on
July 2,
1600 in the
Belgian city
Nieuwpoort.
Dutch army of about 10,000 men, led by Prince
Maurits of Nassau. Spanish army of 8700 men, led by Albrecht, archduke of Austria.
The small city of Nieuwpoort (Newport) in
Belgium, along the coast.
Against Maurits' better judgement, the Staten Generaal had ordered Maurits to take the army, march south along the coast, and burn the pirate nest of Dunkirk.
The Spanish intercepted Maurits' army, and cut off their retreat.
North flank:
- Dutch : 4 guns, 650 english musketeers.
- Spanish : 6 guns, 600 cavalry, 1400 infantry.
South flank:
- Dutch: 1200 riders
- Spanish: 1000 riders
Center:
- Dutch: 9300 infantry
- Spanish: 7300 infantry
The Spanish advantage in pikeman was about 2:1.
Two days before a Dutch army had ran before the same Spanish tercio's almost without a fight. Maurits sent his ships to prevent a flight of the soldiers into the ships, and puts his army in a defensive position where the sun will shine in the eyes of the Spanish towards the end of the day, while the beach sand will blow into their eyes.
All afternoon the battle rages, until both sides are exhausted. Maurits has held 3 vendels of cavalry in reserve, which he commits and clear the beach. The Spanish army is defeated. Maurits fame spreads through Europe.
The battle achieved nothing, and the strategic lesson was that it was more advantage to siege and capture towns than to win battles.
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