Fall of Antwerp

This article is about the Siege and outcome of the 1584–1585 siege of Antwerp during the Eighty Years' War. For other battles involving a siege of this city, see Siege of Antwerp.
Fall of Antwerp
Part of the Eighty Years' War

Parma's bridge over the Scheldt in 1585, built of ships.
DateJuly 1584 – 17 August 1585
Location
Antwerp (present-day Belgium)
Result Spanish victory
Belligerents
Dutch Republic Estates General Spain Spain
Commanders and leaders
Dutch Republic Philips van Marnix Spain Alessandro Farnese
Strength
80,000 men 40,000 men
Casualties and losses
8,000 ~1,800

The fall of Antwerp (Dutch: val van Antwerpen [vɑl vɑn ˈɑntʋɛrpə(n)]) on 17 August 1585 took place during the Eighty Years' War, after a siege lasting over a year from July 1584 until August 1585. The city of Antwerp was the focal point of the Protestant-dominated Dutch Revolt, but was forced to surrender to the Spanish forces under the command of Alessandro Farnese. Under the terms agreed, all the Protestants of Antwerp were given four years to settle their affairs and leave the city. Many migrated north, especially to Amsterdam. Apart from losing a high proportion of its middle class and mercantile population, Antwerp's trade suffered for two centuries afterwards as Dutch forts blockaded the River Scheldt until 1795.