A naval conflict between England and the Dutch Republic ended in stalemate, concluded by the Treaty of Breda in 1667 after the Dutch Raid on the Medway.
Key Facts
- Start date
- 4 March 1665
- End date
- 31 July 1667
- Concluding treaty
- Treaty of Breda
- Decisive Dutch action
- Raid on the Medway, June 1667
- Subsequent conflict
- Third Anglo-Dutch War, 1672
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
Commercial rivalry between England and the Dutch Republic generated persistent disputes over trade routes and colonial possessions. These tensions, already underlying the First Anglo-Dutch War, remained unresolved and drove both nations to renew hostilities in 1665 in pursuit of maritime and mercantile dominance.
The Second Anglo-Dutch War lasted from 4 March 1665 to 31 July 1667, fought primarily at sea through a series of major naval battles. Neither side achieved decisive victory, and the conflict reached stalemate by late 1666. The Dutch Raid on the Medway in June 1667 broke the deadlock, compelling Charles II to negotiate peace.
The Treaty of Breda resolved several long-standing disputes, laying groundwork for an eventual English-Dutch alliance against French expansionism under Louis XIV. In the short term, however, Charles II's desire for revenge contributed directly to the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Dutch War in 1672.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent