Western History 103: What happened during the Anglo-Dutch Wars?

The Anglo-Dutch Wares were a series of four conflicts that were fought between England (later Great Britain) and the Dutch Republic (also known as Batavia). The wars were largely waged in the North Sea and the Mediterranean and were initiated by disputes over trade and colonization. 

The First Anglo-Dutch War (1652-54) broke out over the Navigation Act of 1651 that the Parliament implemented to favour English trading. Although the Dutch under Admiral Maarten Tromp had a victory at the Battle of Dungeness the better equipped English man-of-wars would eventually persevere resulting in an English war victory. The treaty of Westminster ended the war but commercial rivalry would break out leading to the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-67).

The Dutch were more successful in the Second War, with England suffering from the aftermath of both the Great Plague and the Fire of London. An English fleet was destroyed off Chatham in 1667 forcing the signing of the Treaty of Breda.

The Third Anglo-Dutch War (1672-74) was part of the French-Dutch War. The Dutch were largely on the defensive and actually forced an opening of their dikes to fend off a French invasion. English attacks on the Dutch Republic were beaten back at Ostend and Kijdiun and a Peace Treaty was once again signed at Westminster in 1674.

Both England and the Netherlands has been allies with one another, however in 1780 war broke out between the two powers over Dutch secret deals with the Americans. The English took possession of Ditch controlled territory in the East Indies but the Dutch still managed a key victory at Dogger Bank in 1781. The Fourth War lasted until 1784 and despite Dutch success had a long negative impact on the Netherlands. Dutch power would decline rapidly after this leaving Britain as the paramount Naval Power, a reality that would persist until well into the 20^th century.

                                                             Admiral Maarten Tromp