Holmes's Bonfire

Holmes's Bonfire
Part of the Second Anglo-Dutch War
'Holmes's Bonfire' by Willem van de Velde the Elder
Date 19–20 August 1666 Location Near West-Terschelling, in the provinces of Friesland and Holland of the Dutch Republic 53°21′39″N 5°12′56″E / 53.36083°N 5.21556°E / 53.36083; 5.21556 Result English victory
Belligerents
England	Dutch Republic
Commanders and leaders
Robert Holmes
Strength
8 ships	2 ships 150 merchant vessels
Casualties and losses
6 killed 24 wounded	2 ships destroyed 140 merchant vessels destroyed

Holmes's Bonfire was a raid on the Vlie estuary in the Netherlands, executed by the English Fleet during the Second Anglo-Dutch War on 19 and 20 August 1666 New Style (9 and 10 August Old Style). The attack, named after the commander of the landing force, Rear-Admiral Robert Holmes, was successful in destroying by fire a large merchant fleet of 140 ships. During the same action, the town of West-Terschelling was burnt down, which caused outrage in the Dutch Republic.