The Battle of Texel Encounter during the Battle of Kijkduin (Battle of Texel), circa 1675 by Willem van de Velde the Younger. © Heritage Art/Heritage Images—Hulton Fine Art Collection/Getty Images. (more) Battle of Texel European history [1673] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Texel Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Military History Encyclopedia on the Web - Battle of Texel or Kijkduin, 11/ 21 August 1673 Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by R.G. Grant R.G. Grant is a historian who has written extensively on many aspects and periods of history. R.G. Grant Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 26, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Quick Facts Date: August 21, 1673 (Show more) Location: Netherlands Texel Island (Show more) Participants: Dutch Republic France England (Show more) Context: Anglo-Dutch Wars (Show more) Key People: Michiel de Ruyter (Show more) See all related content Battle of Texel, the last engagement of the Anglo-Dutch Wars, fought on August 21, 1673, between the Dutch navy and a combined British and French armada. It demonstrated the indomitable fighting spirit of the Dutch fleet, which was led by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, and the fiery temperament of 17th-century admirals, two of whom fought a personal duel.

　　After his attack on the allied English and French at Solebay, de Ruyter fell back on the defensive even as the British and French tried to lure him out to sea, leaving the Dutch coast exposed to invasion. The allies blockaded the coast, but De Ruyter, with 75 ships of the line, was in the safety of shallow home waters and mounted sorties to harass their blockading squadrons. Although outnumbered by about 15 warships, the Dutch relied on a lack of cooperation between the French and English.

　　Anglo-Dutch Wars Events keyboard_arrow_left

　　Battle of Lowestoft June 13, 1665

　　Raid on the Medway June 12, 1667 - June 14, 1667

　　Treaty of Breda July 31, 1667

　　Battle of Texel August 21, 1673 keyboard_arrow_right When De Ruyter sailed out from the Dutch island of Texel, the French commander, Jean d’Estreés, was under secret orders from Louis XIV to avoid losing ships and so mostly kept out of the battle, retreating at the approach of a small Dutch squadron. The fighting between the Dutch and British fleets was disrupted by a vendetta between English Admiral Sir Edward Spragge and Dutch Lieutenant Admiral Cornelis Tromp. Spragge had sworn to kill Tromp and pursued him without regard for battle formation. Having shattered each other’s flagships—and half their crew—in a savage exchange of fire, the two men shifted ships and repeated the devastation with a second pair of vessels. Finally, as Spragge took to a rowing boat to transfer to a third ship, the boat was cut in half by a cannonball, and he drowned.

　　De Ruyter, meanwhile, pummeled the English before disengaging at will to return to the safety of the shallows. The storm of abuse heaped by the English upon the French in the wake of the battle heralded the end of the Anglo-French alliance and of English participation in the war against the Dutch.