Lot Essay
The Siege of Oostende
At the time of the formation of the Union of Utrecht (1588), the town of Oostende belonged to the province of Zeeland, and thus, along with Nieuwpoort (some 30 kilometers south along the coast) proclaimed territory of the United Provinces. In the year 1600 the Spanish, under Philippe III, besieged Nieuwpoort, and although at the time unsuccessful, managed to inflict great damages to both port and it's inhabitance. The Dutch, knowing that the Spanish would soon return and that it would be impossible to continue defending the port, retreated to Oostende. However, it was not long until the Spanish reached that town too, and in 1601 the "Siege of Oostende" began. The Dutch troops, led for a time by General Sir Francis Vere under Prince Maurits of Nassau, defended Oostende until loosing it in May 1604. The siege cost the Dutch some 70,000 soldiers, and could arguably be concidered one of the bloodiest battles of it's time. So much so, that it opened the eyes of all of Europe and thus became a memorable subject worthy of depiction.
cf. V. Foutry, Merkwaardige Bladzijden Uit De Geschiedenis Van Oostende, De Sikkel, Antwerpen, 1938
At the time of the formation of the Union of Utrecht (1588), the town of Oostende belonged to the province of Zeeland, and thus, along with Nieuwpoort (some 30 kilometers south along the coast) proclaimed territory of the United Provinces. In the year 1600 the Spanish, under Philippe III, besieged Nieuwpoort, and although at the time unsuccessful, managed to inflict great damages to both port and it's inhabitance. The Dutch, knowing that the Spanish would soon return and that it would be impossible to continue defending the port, retreated to Oostende. However, it was not long until the Spanish reached that town too, and in 1601 the "Siege of Oostende" began. The Dutch troops, led for a time by General Sir Francis Vere under Prince Maurits of Nassau, defended Oostende until loosing it in May 1604. The siege cost the Dutch some 70,000 soldiers, and could arguably be concidered one of the bloodiest battles of it's time. So much so, that it opened the eyes of all of Europe and thus became a memorable subject worthy of depiction.
cf. V. Foutry, Merkwaardige Bladzijden Uit De Geschiedenis Van Oostende, De Sikkel, Antwerpen, 1938