Battle of IJsselmeer
The Battle of IJsselmeer, also known as the Battle on Skates, happened in 1572 during the Eighty Years’ War near Haarlem. Dutch rebels (the Geuzen) fought Spanish troops led by Don Frederick, the Duke of Alva’s son. The city was mostly surrounded by water, and some ships were stuck in the ice. When the Spanish tried to seize these ships, Dutch fighters on ice skates moved across the ice, shooting at them and withdrawing when needed. The Dutch gained the upper hand, and the Spanish suffered many casualties, while the Dutch suffered few. The battle ended in a Dutch victory. According to the story, the Duke later ordered thousands of pairs of skates for future icy battles.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:42 (CET).