Maurice adopted the same tactics as the Duke of Parma, by creating defensible barriers and zones of control.

[8] The city of Coevorden was one of these towns and had been captured in September 1592 which thus cut off the Spaniards eastern supply line to Groningen.

[1] Verdugo however was not familiar with the climate of Coevorden, and as well as a lack of fuel and food, disease took hold of the Spanish camp - many soldiers of which succumbed to.

Soldiers who were looking for fuel and food then brought disease to the surrounding villages where whole families were infected and died.

[7] Count William Louis, with his thirteen companies of Frisians, had fortified the area known as the Bourtange Marsh so that Maurice could move in quickly and take Verdugo at a disadvantage.

William Louis soon joined Maurice and Vere on the road between Vecht and the Bourtange marsh totalling 9,600 soldiers and 1,900 cavalry.

[5] Count Philip of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein was sent with twenty Dutch companies to cover the southern borders against Verdugo's army of reinforcements under Frederik and Herman van den Bergh of which neared 8,000 men.

[6] Despite heated debates, William Louis and Vere were overruled and Groningen was eventually chosen which would lead to its capture that year.