The Dutch Spice Fleet, laden with fabulous riches, had managed to return home safely after the Battle of Vågen.

The Dutch navy has been enormously expanded through the largest building program in its history.

Already in August 1665 the English fleet had again been challenged, though no large battles resulted.

The English in 1666 have become anxious to destroy the Dutch navy completely before it can grow too strong and are desperate to end the activity of Dutch raiders as a collapse of English trade threatens.

On learning that the French fleet intends to join the Dutch at Dunkirk, the English decide to prevent this by splitting their fleet.

Their main force will try to destroy the Dutch fleet first, while a squadron under Prince Rupert is sent to block the Strait of Dover against the French—who don't show up.

At the start of the battle the English fleet of fifty-six ships commanded by Monck, who also commands the Red Squadron, is outnumbered by the eighty-four-strong Dutch fleet commanded by de Ruyter.

The battle, fought from June 1 to 4 June 4 in the Julian or Old Style calendar used at this time in England (June 11 to 14, New Style) off the Flemish and English coast ends with a successful English disengagement after both fleets have expended most of their ammunition.

The Dutch have inflicted significant damage on the English fleet.

The English had gambled that the crews of the many new Dutch ships of the line would not have been fully trained yet but were deceived in their hopes: they have lost ten ships, with slightly over one thousand men killed including two Vice-Admirals, Sir Christopher Myngs and Sir William Berkeley, while about two thousand English have been taken prisoner.

Dutch losses are four ships destroyed by fire and over fifteen hundred and fifty men killed, including Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Evertsen, Vice-Admiral Abraham Van der Hulst and Rear-Admiral Frederik Stachouwer.