2,000 killed & wounded,
500 to 700 captured 12 to 50 casualties Result Dutch and English victory | Date 24 January 1597 Location Turnhout, Belgium | |
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4,000 infantry,
500 cavalry 6,000 infantry,
800 cavalry Combatants Dutch Republic, Spanish Empire, Habsburg Spain Similar Battle of Rijmenam, Siege of Deventer, Siege of Bergen op Zoom, Siege of Groenlo, Battle of Reimerswaal | ||
Lego battle of turnhout
The Battle of Turnhout was a military engagement which took place on 24 January 1597 in the border area between the Northern and Southern Netherlands at Turnhout during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). Though the town had not been walled, Turnhout was an important strategic town.
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On 24 January 1597 on the Tielenheide (this battle is also called 'The battle on Tielenheide') in a neighbouring village (Tielen), Dutch cavalry under command of Prince Maurice met and defeated a Spanish cavalry detachment under Varax. The Spanish cavalry was driven off, after which the Dutch cavalry fell upon the straggling Spanish infantry who, being caught in marching order in the open, were unable to properly form up before the cuirassiers were upon them and inside their ranks. Henceforward, they were routed with heavy casualties. Dutch troops also burned parts of the local castle. The ever prudent Maurice failed to follow up and turn the tactical victory into a strategic one.
Battle of turnhout 1597
Cultural
Music composer Kevin Houben commemorated the battle in his concert work, Thyellene, battle on the heath. In September 2008, Brassband Kempenzonen Tielen played this work on the site where once the battle took place.
The defeat of Varax inspired the writing of the hymn We Gather Together.