Siege of Lingen ( 1605 ) The Siege of Lingen of 1605 took place between 10 August and 19 August 1605 , at Lingen , District of Emsland , Lower Saxony , between Spain and the United Provinces , during the Eighty Years ' War . After nine days of siege , the Spanish army of 16 , 000 – 17 , 000 strong under General Don Ambrosio Spinola , Marquis of the Balbases , took the Dutch - fortress of Lingen , despite of that the Prince Maurice of Nassau , who tried to preserve Lingen at all costs . The Dutch garrison led by Captain Maerten Cobben , hoping to be aided by Maurice ' s army , finally surrendered to the Spaniards . The rapid activity of the Spanish troops , commanded by Spinola , was crucial . The siege was part of the successful Spinola ' s campaign of 1605 - 1606 . Background . After the devastating Siege of Ostend , on 2 July 1605 , the Dutch headquarters received reports that Don Ambrosio Spinola with Spain ' s main army of Flanders was headed towards the strongholds of the Rhine , in Cologne . Maurice and his commanders , who in secretly , were planning the siege to Antwerp , had to abandon all hope . The movements of Ambrosio Spinola , not only prevented the Dutch troops landed near Antwerp , also forced to retreat the Dutch in their attempt to capture other minor towns . The States - General , alarmed for the Spanish advance , ordered to Prince Maurice to head for the Rhine with all of his troops . Spinola ' s army was initially estimated between 7 , 000 or 9 , 000 infantry and 3 , 000 cavalry , but a few days later , the new Dutch reports estimated the Spaniards numbered about 16 , 000 – 17 , 000 men . Maurice quickly , at the end of July , with an army of 61 infantry companies and 6 cavalry companies , went towards Deventer , arriving on 10 August , leaving behind 50 infantry companies to cover Ijzendijke . 2 days earlier , on 8 August , Spinola reached and laid siege the fortified town of Oldenzaal . At the next day , the Dutch garrison surrendered to the Spaniards . Then , in the same day , Spinola ' s army marched on Lingen . Siege of Lingen . On 10 August , the Spanish army , forthwith , put under siege Lingen . The news that Oldenzaal had fallen , and that Spinola was marching on Lingen reached the Dutch headquarters in the same day . The garrison of Lingen , about 500 or 1 , 000 Dutch soldiers under Captain Maerten Cobben , plus the town militia , made every effort in the defense of this fortress - town , as the Dutch defenders were informed that Prince Maurice would come to their aid , but the rapid activity of the Spanish troops under the orders of Spinola made impossible the defense . After nine days of siege , the Spanish army of General Don Ambrosio Spinola took the Dutch - fortress of Lingen , compelling its garrison to surrender . Aftermath . The loss of Lingen led to serious disquiet in the Dutch headquarters , and Prince Maurice had to opt for a defensive strategy . He marched to the threatened towns by Spinola with 12 , 000 to 13 , 000 men on 30 August , and left behind garrisons , with a total strength of 8 , 100 men , in Deventer , Zutphen , Zwolle , Rheinberg , Bredevoort and Groenlo . In mid - September Spinola drew back to the Rhine , crossed this river , took Mülheim , and laid siege to Wachtendonk on 8 October . At next day , on 9 October , the Dutch troops led by Frederick Henry and Maurice launched an attack against the Spanish troops at Mülheim , but the Spaniards repelled and defeated the Dutch forces . Wachtendonk fell into Spanish hands on 28 October , and on 8 November , Krakau Castle also was taken by Spinola . The Dutch and the Spanish troops took up their winter quarters in late November .