The Anglo-Dutch Wars over trade supremacy (1652–1674)
England’s Commonwealth government passed the 1651 Navigation Act to restrict imports to English ships or ships from the goods’ country of origin. Because Dutch merchants dominated European shipping, the act directly threatened Dutch profits and set the stage for military confrontation over trade rules.
English and Dutch fleets clashed near Dover on 29 May 1652 after a dispute over naval protocol (the English demand that foreign fleets salute by striking their flag). The skirmish sharpened tensions already created by commercial restrictions and helped push both governments toward open war.
On 10 July 1652, England formally declared war on the Dutch Republic. The conflict was closely tied to mercantilist goals: protecting national shipping and steering trade benefits toward the home state, even at the cost of war.
At the Battle of Dungeness on 30 November 1652, the Dutch fleet won a clear victory and briefly gained control of the English Channel. This mattered economically because the Channel was a key artery for merchant convoys and wartime commerce protection.
From 28 February to 2 March 1653, English forces defeated a Dutch fleet off the Isle of Portland. The battle helped England reassert pressure on Dutch sea lanes and showed how naval victories could be used to choke an opponent’s trade.
The Battle of the Gabbard (2–3 June 1653) was a major English victory that expanded English control from the Channel into the North Sea. Afterward, the English could impose a blockade that captured merchant ships and directly damaged the Dutch economy.
On 31 July 1653, the fleets fought at Scheveningen (Ter Heijde), the last major battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War. Heavy losses on both sides increased pressure for a settlement, since prolonged war threatened trade and state finances.
In April 1654, England and the Dutch Republic signed the Treaty of Westminster, ending the First Anglo-Dutch War. The peace reflected the reality that neither side could afford indefinite disruption of shipping, even while commercial rivalry remained unresolved.
Early in the Second Anglo-Dutch War, England won the Battle of Lowestoft on 13 June 1665. The battle showed how quickly trade competition could turn into major fleet actions, with each side trying to protect its merchant system by defeating the other’s navy.
From 11 to 14 June 1666 (New Style), the Dutch won the Four Days’ Battle, one of the largest sea battles of the age. The result helped the Dutch prevent England from translating earlier victories into lasting control over trade routes.
On 12–14 June 1667, Dutch forces raided the English fleet at the River Medway and damaged or captured major ships. The raid exposed England’s vulnerability at home and pushed both sides toward peace talks, since naval security was central to economic power.
On 31 July 1667, the Treaty of Breda ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War among England, the Dutch Republic, France, and Denmark. It adjusted trade rules and colonial possessions, showing how mercantilist conflict linked sea power, law, and overseas territory.
On 1 June 1670, Charles II of England and Louis XIV of France agreed to a secret arrangement at Dover. The agreement set up an Anglo-French plan against the Dutch Republic, tying European power politics directly to the struggle for commercial and maritime advantage.
England entered the Third Anglo-Dutch War on 27 March 1672, fighting alongside France against the Dutch Republic. For England, the war revived the goal of weakening Dutch dominance in shipping and trade; for the Dutch, survival depended on keeping sea lanes open.
At Solebay on 6 June 1672 (New Style), the Dutch fought the combined Anglo-French fleet, disrupting plans for a seaborne invasion. The battle underscored a core mercantilist lesson: controlling the sea often mattered more than winning territory, because trade and supply depended on it.
On 21 August 1673, the Dutch won the Battle of Texel (Kijkduin) against an Anglo-French fleet. The outcome helped prevent an invasion and protected Dutch maritime trade, weakening support in England for continuing an expensive war with limited gains.
The Treaty of Westminster was signed on 19 February 1674, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War between England and the Dutch Republic. It effectively confirmed that repeated wars had not broken Dutch trading power, while England’s long-term strategy shifted toward building strength and contesting commerce through policy and naval expansion rather than quick military knockouts.