The Netherlands is an interesting place and there is a lot more to it than Tulips from Amsterdam and Heineken beer. This year is the 400th anniversary of the birth of one of the great heroes of the Netherlands and one who defended it in it’s infancy. I speak of Michiel de Ruyter born in Vlissingen (or Flushing in English). in the year 1607 as Michiel Adriaenszoon.
He was the greatest Admiral in the history of the Netherlands and is spoken of in The Netherlands as Nelson is in England , he was arguably the most successful Admiral of the era. He defeated the Royal Navy spectacularly in the Second Anglo Dutch war in the Raid on the Medway, a severe loss for the English.
As a young man he was a representative for a Dutch trading company in Dublin and apparently spoke fluent Irish by all accounts.
He raised the standard for the seafarers of his time, and his tactical methods were ahead of his time, his gunners for example fired off 2 volleys at once when the enemy were still only managing one.
The writers of history for English speaking nations have of course glossed over this and many other influential historical figures, I don’t ever recall hearing about this Admiral in school, and his would surely have been interesting and alternative stories to tell, especially as he was a trader in Dublin and an Irish speaker. Perhaps the exploits of a Dutch protestant who served the house of Nassau were not so interesting for Catholic Ireland.
Michiel de Ruyter, Lieutenant-Admiral-General of the Dutch Republic of United Provinces died in battle against the French in 1676 4 years after recieving his title from the Statholder William III of Orange in 1672, William III is of course King Billy to the Unionists in the North. I wonder how many of them know that their Bill was the ruler of a Republic?
Recent Comments