By the end of October 1597 Maurice and his army arrived at Lingen and by taking the city the Spanish would have no choice but to abandon the region of Twente as a whole.

[2] The town was situated at the extreme boundary of the Low Countries (in present-day Germany), governed by Frederik van den Bergh which was defended by 500 men under Lieutenant Verdugo .

[3][4] Maurice's army which included English and Scots under Horace Vere had left the recently captured Oldenzaal and had to cross the Ems river which they achieved without incident.

[7] As the siege started the garrison made a brisk sortie and burnt a mill but they were driven back by the English and Scots who were at the head of the attack.

[2][7] By capturing Lingen, Maurice closed off the campaign of 1597 and was just one of his latest conquests during this successful period, called the Ten Glory Years.