During the years prior to the Battle of the Zuiderzee, the largest Dutch city, Amsterdam, had not joined the uprising and remained loyal to the king of Spain.

In 1573 the Spanish Governor Maximilian de Henin Count of Bossu sent a fleet consisting of about 30 ships with a crew of over 1,300 people with the prerogative to halt the attacks and destroy the enemy force.

Trying to minimize their casualties against the heavier guns, the Gueux attempted to head straight for the Spanish ships.

With their main mode of attack thwarted, the Dutch fleet was no match for the Spanish guns, and suffered heavy losses.

The rest of the Spanish fleet fled and Maximilien de Hénin-Liétard and his crew surrendered after the Dutch promised to spare their lives.