Siege of Oldenzaal (1626)
Siege of Oldenzaal (1626)
During the Eighty Years’ War and the Anglo–Spanish War, the Spanish-held town of Oldenzaal in Overijssel was besieged from July 23 to August 1, 1626 by Dutch and English forces. The attackers were led by Ernest Casimir with the help of Prince Frederick Henry of Orange, and they faced a garrison of about 800 men under Spanish Governor Guillermo Verdugo.
Casimir built siege lines, captured the nearby Broeckhuise castle, and used the town’s canals to flood key gates. After about a week of bombardment, Verdugo asked for terms and surrendered. The Dutch entered the town in triumph; Protestant defectors were arrested, and parts of Oldenzaal’s walls were demolished to prevent mutiny, though some medieval fortifications and canal works remained.
The victory removed Spanish control from the region, and the following year Groenlo fell after a longer siege.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 21:59 (CET).