On 5 April 1684, Van Brakel was promoted to rear admiral of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Four years later, as a temporary vice admiral—from October 1688 until January 1689—he was part of the fleet that brought William III to England in the invasion that led to the Glorious Revolution. From 1688 onwards, Van Brakel served on the amalgamated Anglo-Dutch fleet until he was killed in the battle of Beachy Head in 1690.