The Middelhoven

The Middelhoven was a Dutch frigate that was attacked and set ablaze by English fireships on 19 August 1666 during a British assault near Terschelling.

Holmes’ Bonfire
On that day, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665–1667), an English fleet under the command of Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes launched a surprise attack on a Dutch merchant fleet of around 150 ships anchored in the Vlie — the tidal inlet between the islands of Vlieland and Terschelling.

To protect the merchantmen, two Dutch frigates — the Vollenhoven and the Middelhoven — were stationed near the Robbegat. Both vessels were lost in the assault.

Several English fireships were sent toward the frigates. Some were destroyed by cannon fire, but eventually both Dutch warships caught fire and were lost. According to eyewitnesses, the Vollenhoven was the first to be struck. Her captain, Adelaar, drowned after abandoning his burning ship. Captain Van Tol of the Middelhoven survived the attack.

With the convoy escorts destroyed, the now-defenceless merchant fleet became easy prey. Holmes ordered the ships to be systematically set on fire and destroyed.

"Meanwhile, the English continued burning the ships on the tide, expending all their fireships, and carried on the work from their boats and tenders, throwing hand grenades into the vessels; not resting until the entire fleet had been consumed, save for 13 or 14, or perhaps more, that managed to sail upriver."
After annihilating the fleet, Holmes landed on Terschelling and razed the village of West-Terschelling to the ground.

• Anne Doedens en Jan Houter.
  1666: de Brand van Terschelling en Vlieland. Bijlage 11.
• Leven en bedrijf van den vermaarde zeeheld Cornelis Tromp, 350.
• Amsterdam archief, S.A.A.