The Tholen was a ship of the line of the Dutch Zeeland Admiralty. It was burned at the Battle of Beachy Head.

In this period, two ships with the name Tholen were built and used by the Zeeland Admiralty relatively close to one another. The other Tholen was built in 1682 and was lost on the Atlantic Ocean during a convoy voyage.

Battle of Beachy Head

The Tholen formed part of the Dutch squadron that was deployed in the naval battle near the South English Beachy Head that took place on July 10th, 1690 as part of the Nine Years' War. The battle was fought between the British-Dutch fleet under command of admiral Arthur Torrington and admiral Cornelis Evertsen against the French fleet under De Tourville. The French fleet won a decisive victory (see Battle of Beachy Head).

The Tholen was badly damaged during the battle. To avoid capture by the French, the ship was burnt by the own crew.

Wikimedia Commons

Type: 3rd rate ship of the line

Yard: Middelburg (?)

Armament: 60 cannon

Metropolitan Museum

• Bender, J.
  Dutch Warships in the Age of Sail 1600 - 1714.
• MASS.
• Evertsz Cornelis (1690).
  brief van admiraal Evertsz. van het schip Hollandia 17-7-1690.
• NL-HaNA_1.01.46_13_010 lijst schepen 1700.