A French army under command of Marshal Maurice de Saxe, took the city from its Dutch garrison after a three-week siege.

Despite having 200,000 men in the Austrian Netherlands, the French Supreme commander Marshal Maurice de Saxe decided to avoid a new major battle.

The reason was that his troops were dispersed, occupying fortresses and towns across the Austrian Netherlands, and furthermore, the King had given his ambitious kinsman, the Prince of Conti, command over a part of the army.

A shell exploded the Dutch powder magazine, destroying numerous buildings, including the church of Saint-Pierre.

By the end of September, artillery had breached the walls of Fort Orange and the citadel, and preparations were being made for the final attack.