Battle of Nieuwpoort
The Battle of Nieuwpoort between the Dutch and the Spanish army took place on July 2, 1600 in the Belgian city Nieuwpoort.
The Spanish intercepted Maurits' army, and cut off their retreat.
South flank:
Center:
The Spanish advantage in pikeman was about 2:1.
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.
Table of contents
1 Contestants
2 Place
3 Campaign
4 Forces
5 Battle description
6 Conclusion
Contestants
Dutch army of about 10,000 men, led by Prince Maurits of Nassau. Spanish army of 8700 men, led by Albrecht, archduke of Austria.
Place
The small city of Nieuwpoort (Newport) in Belgium, along the coast.
Campaign
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.
Forces
North flank:
Battle description
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.
Conclusion
The battle achieved nothing, and the strategic lesson was that it was more advantage to siege and capture towns than to win battles.