Treaty of Breda (1667) – End of the Second Anglo-Dutch War

On July 31, 1667, the Treaty of Breda was signed in the Great Hall of the Castle in Breda. This treaty between the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, England, France and Denmark ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War.

In the seventeenth century the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands prospered for a long time. Thanks to trade and shipping, the republic enjoyed great prosperity. Business was done with the overseas companies in Africa, Asia and North and South America. In addition, the Dutch could be found with their merchant ships in both the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea. The Republic was at the forefront of international trade.

Economic declaration of war

But over time, the competition showed up. The French government adopted a new economic policy aimed at promoting its own trade and industry. And the English, under Oliver Cromwell, issued the Act of Navigation in 1651. This stipulated that from now on foreign ships calling at the country could only sell goods that came from the country itself. This rule was clearly intended to undermine the superior trading position of the Republic. Goods that the Dutch from outside Europehad been imported were now banned. The Act of Navigation is therefore sometimes referred to as an economic declaration of war. And war it became. In 1652 the First Anglo-Dutch War broke out. This war turned out badly for the Netherlands. After some setbacks, the Treaty of Westminster (1654) forced the Republic to accept English trade law.

In 1665, after the introduction of new protectionist English laws, the war resumed. Thanks in part to the efforts of Johan de Witt, the Republic at that time had a much stronger fleet, which meant that the English could be put up with serious resistance at sea this time. The lowest point of this war from the perspective of the Dutch was the attack by the English on a fleet at Vlieland (1666). During this operation, which came to be known as Holmes’ Bonfire, West-Terschelling was reduced to ashes. In addition, approximately one hundred and fifty Dutch merchant ships were destroyed.

The absolute highlight – again from a Dutch perspective – of the Second Anglo-Dutch War was the Raid on the Medway / Tour to Chatham (1667), led by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter. During an attack on a large English naval base, the Dutch managed to sink three large and ten small ships. The HMS Royal Charles, the flagship of the English fleet, was then boarded and towed to the Netherlands as spoils of war. The transom (stern) of this ship can still be admired as a showpiece in the Rijksmuseum. The special plan of attack was devised by Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt.

Peace

At the moment that De Ruyter attacked the English naval base, a peace was already being negotiated in Brede. The negotiations were extremely difficult. With the Journey to Chatham, a breakthrough had to be forced at the negotiating table. That plan succeeded. A few weeks after the attack, the Treaty of Breda was signed. The attack had plunged the morale of the English, who also had to deal with a huge fire in London a year earlier, to a low point.

The British civil servant Samuel Pepys wrote in late July 1667:

‘In this way the Dutch master us in everything – wisdom, courage, power, knowledge of our waters and success – and they end the war victorious’.

Thanks to the treaty, English shipping laws were relaxed. The parties also agreed that the German hinterland would become part of the trade area of ​​the Republic. And as for the colonies, the status quo was recognized. England was allowed to keep New York in exchange for Suriname, which had recently been conquered from England by Abraham Crijnssen for the Dutch.

350 years ago

In 2017 it was 350 years ago that the Peace of Breda was signed. This fact was extensively commemorated in Breda, including an interactive fountain, a hundred peace flags and an exhibition in the Stedelijk Museum Breda.