Vlieter Incident

Part of the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland
during the War of the Second Coalition

Satellite image of the island of Texel and its surroundings. Wieringen (see article) is the piece of land appearing in the bottom-right of the picture.

Date	30 August 1799
Location	near Wieringen, Netherlands
Result	Batavian surrender

Belligerents

Great Britain

Russia

Batavian Republic

Commanders and leaders

Vice-Admiral A. Mitchell

Rear-Admiral S. Story

Strength

17 ships

13 ships

Casualties and losses

none

12 ships surrendered

In the Vlieter incident on 30 August 1799, a squadron of the navy of the Batavian Republic, commanded by Rear-Admiral Samuel Story, surrendered to the British navy. The incident occurred during the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland. It took place on a sandbank near the channel between Texel and the mainland that was known as De Vlieter, near Wieringen.

During the War of the First Coalition the Dutch Republic was invaded in 1794 by the armies of the French Republic, which led to the flight of Stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange to England, and the proclamation of the Batavian Republic. This Republic now changed sides in the war, entering into an offensive and defensive alliance with France.

In the course of the War of the Second Coalition, which actually was a continuation of the first war, without France, Great Britain, or the Batavian Republic having concluded a peace, Great Britain and Russia decided to launch an invasion of the Batavian Republic in the peninsula of North Holland in August 1799. It was hoped that this invasion would cause a popular uprising of the Dutch population against their republic. The former Stadtholder and his eldest son the Prince of Orange tried to support the expedition by propaganda-efforts and intrigues with disaffected officers. The loyalty of the Batavian navy was especially in doubt, as this was a hotbed of Orangist sentiment. The British Major General George Don, who conducted a reconnaissance of the Republic in July, 1799, estimated that the Helder squadron of the Batavian fleet would fall into British hands without a fight, if the Allies played their cards right.

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Wikipedia