On 10 February 1793, when the Franco–Batavian forces were closing in, stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange ordered commander Alexander van Bylandt to defend Breda at all costs: Ne vous embarrassez pas si mon chateau et tout ce qui je possède dans la baronnie est brulé ou détruit, je dois à mon pays mon sang pour sa défense s'il le faut, je lui dois aussi la sacrifice de mes biens quand il s'agit de la conservation de ma patrie.

A first skirmish took place on 21 February, after which the French, with 3,800 men under the command of François Joseph Westermann, closed all access roads to the city and started constructing the siege works.

[1] During a ceasefire, Colonel Philippe Devaux de Vautray ordered the city to surrender, but this demand was rejected, leading the attackers to resume the bombardment.

However, when colonel Devaux again demanded the city to surrender in the early morning of 24 February, using threatening words, it was accepted under the condition that the Dutch States Army garrison would be granted a withdrawal with full military honours.

A liberty tree with a Phrygian cap on top was planted in front of the town hall, and Dumouriez and his officers danced around it whilst singing "La Marseillaise".