Battle of Scheveningen. The Battle of Scheveningen was the final naval battle of the First Anglo-Dutch War.
   It took place on 31 July 1653, between the fleets of the Commonwealth of England and the United Provinces. The Dutch fleet suffered massive losses but achieved its immediate strategic goal of raising the Royal Navy blockade of the Dutch coast.
   After their victory at the Battle of the Gabbard in June 1653, the English fleet of 120 ships under General at Sea George Monck on his flagship Resolution blockaded the Dutch coast, capturing many merchant vessels. The Dutch economy began to collapse, with mass unemployment and a severe economic downturn affecting it. On 24 July, the Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp put to sea in Brederode with a fleet of 100 ships, to lift the blockade at the island of Texel, where Vice-Admiral Witte de With's 27 ships were blockaded by the English.
   Five days later, the English sighted Tromp and pursued to the south, sinking two Dutch ships before dark but allowing De With to slip out and rendezvous the next day with Tromp off Scheveningen, right next to the small village of Ter Heijde, after Tromp had positioned himself by some brilliant maneuvering to the north of the English fleet. The winds were fierce on 30 July and overnight, giving both fleets pause.
   Around 7:00 a.m. on 31 July, the Dutch gained an advantage from the weather and attacked, led by Brederode. Th
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