Battle of Turnhout (1597)

Battle of Turnhout, 1597.

During the Eighty Years War Turnhout was in the border area between the Northern and Southern Netherlands. Though the town had not been walled, Turnhout was an important strategic town. On January 24, 1597 on the 'Tielenheide', Dutch cavalry under command of Prince Maurice met and defeated an equal sized Spanish cavalry army under Varax. The Spanish cavalry was driven off, after which the Dutch troops burnt part of the local castle. The ever prudent Maurice failed to follow up and turn the tactical victory into a strategic one.