Norway, Bergen, Battle of Vagen Schouten, 1676, d´Stadt Bergen in Noorwegen

Copper engraving with a view of the Bay and City of Bergen in Norway with Dutch and English ships at war in on August 12th, 1665.

The Battle of Vågen was a naval battle between a Dutch merchant and treasure fleet; and an English flotilla of warships in August 1665 as part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. The battle took place in Vågen (meaning "the bay, voe" in Norwegian), the main port area of neutral Bergen, Norway. Due to a delay in orders, the Norwegian commanders took the side of the Dutch, contrary to the secret intentions of the King of Norway and Denmark. The battle ended with the retreat of the English fleet, which was much damaged but had lost no ships. The treasure fleet was relieved by the Dutch home fleet 17 days later.

The Dutch merchant fleet had about 60 vessels. Ten of them were Dutch East India Company (VOC) vessels, commanded by Commodore Pieter de Bitter, which were returning from the East Indies.

Copper engraving, published in Amsterdam in 1676 by Jacob Meurs in "Oost-Indische Voyagie: Containing important incidents and bloody sea and land battles against the Portuguese and Makassares (...)", Wouter Schouten.

Very good condition. Sharp, dark print. Very beautifully hand-coloured.

Image 19x28.5cm, sheet 25.5x33,5cm