Amidst the turmoil of the Second Northern War, the Dutch Republic found itself drawn into the conflict, navigating a delicate balance of power in northern Europe. As Sweden’s once formidable empire began to unravel, the Dutch played a crucial diplomatic and military role, shaping the outcome of the war and shifting regional influence.

Throughout the 17th Century, Dutch Naval Power experienced rapid expansion, driven by its thriving maritime trade, colonial ambitions and need to protect its vast overseas territories. In response to the influence of the major maritime powers of Spain and Portugal, the Dutch invested heavily in arming its merchant ships against Spanish and Portuguese rivals, and its successes in the naval battles of the day solidified their dominance in global trade.

One of those battles was the Battle of the Sound in Second Northern War against the rival Swedish Empire. In October of 1658, the Dutch Fleet was sent to help the besieged Danish capital of Copenhagen, and prevent the Swedes from controlling both sides of the strategic Oresund, a waterway that ships used to access trading ports in the Baltic Sea. The trade hungry Dutch, who were expanding their trade routes into the North, could not allow this important trade route to be entire controlled by their Swedish rivals. The Dutch Fleet under the command of Jacob Van Wassenaer Obdam, prepared 41 ships with 1,413 guns against a Swedish fleet of 45 ships with 1,838 guns. After initially receiving confusing orders, Admiral Obdam received more succinct orders before his voyage north: Save Copenhagen and punch in the face anyone who tries to prevent it. The “anyone” was a reference to the English, whose fleet had previously defeated the Dutch in the First Anglo-Dutch war.

On the morning of October 29, the Dutch fleet weighed anchor and sailed into the fray. As the Dutch ships sailed to face the Swedes, the signature flag, the Blood Flag, or the De Bloedvlag, was flown, signaling an attack or duel on the high seas. The flag itself shows a muscular arm, wielding a cutlass, a sword historically associated with seafaring and the preferred weapon for sailors due to its efficiency in confined spaces when boarding ships. The red background is associated with blood, hence the name the blood flag.

Taking advantage of the favorable wind, the Dutch fleet sailed along the Scanian coast. Any Swedish hopes that the Dutch would side with them were dashed when the Dutch did not return a cannon salute from Kronberg castle. The Swedish bastions on Helsingborg Lake opened fire and in return, received heavy fire from the Dutch. The Swedish and Dutch fleets soon came within firing range of each other, and Admiral Obdam ordered his gunners to aim at the Swedish masts, tackles and trains, crippling many Swedish warships.

The battle, taking place north of the island of Ven, was over in hours, with the Swedes suffering heavy losses, and some of their ships running aground on the Scanian coast, and many others being captured by Dutch boarding parties. The Dutch also suffered losses with many ships being caught in cannon fire and their crews unable to salvage the hull from piercing Swedish fire. However, this did not stop the Dutch from breaking through the Swedish blockade and allowing the Danish fleet trapped in Copenhagen free movement on the seas once again. The battle ended the Swedish claim over Denmark and bells rang out in Copenhagen following the Dutch victory.

However, the flag would go down in maritime and even broader European history. It would come to be flown by cities under siege as a symbol that they would not surrender. Shortly before the Battle of the Sound, the British Royal Navy adopted the flag into their official instructions, which required any ship to fight with all means available when the flag was flown from the flagship. The flag would later be adopted by privateers during the war of the Spanish Succession to help distinguish themselves from Royal Navy ships, and would later become synonymous with piracy.

3x2"
Woven
Hook Backing
Release: 03/1/3/25

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