The French army at Naarden, 20 July 1672, by Adam Frans van der Meulen, 1672. The fortress town of Naarden, a mere twenty kilometres from Amsterdam, was occupied by French troops in June 1672. But the French army were to come no closer. The Dutch opened the Zuiderzee dykes north of Naarden, flooding the countryside and so held them at bay. Naarden was retaken from the French in September 1673. This may be why Van der Meulen never completed this painting. Only the contours of the French soldiers inspecting the surroundings of the fortress are shown. In the background is Naarden, and in the distance the Zuiderzee.