1667 Thames Raid was a Dutch naval and marine operation carried out between 19 June and 23 June 1667 that targeted English fortifications and shipyards along the River Thames, notably at Sheerness, Chatham and Rochester. The expedition was authorised by Cornelius de Witt (deputy) and executed under the overall command of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter with marine leadership from François Palm and Colonel Dolman.
Planning and objectives
The Dutch plan, devised by the States of Holland, aimed to force the British king into peace by threatening the capital’s riverine approaches. The fleet was to sail up the Thames, capture English warships, and destroy naval stores.
Execution
The Dutch forces entered the Thames on 19 June 1667, seized the fort at Sheerness after minimal resistance, and proceeded upriver. Marine detachments of 450 men landed on the island of Chappey (modern Chatham) and captured the English magazines. The flagship Royal Charles was seized on 23 June 1667.
Significance for Aceh
The raid demonstrated Dutch amphibious capability, a skill later employed by the VOC in its campaigns against the Sultanate of Aceh, where coordinated naval‑land assaults were essential for capturing coastal forts.
See Also
Source
De geschiedenis van het Nederlandsche Korps Mariniers van 1665‑1945, OCR text, pp. 43‑46 (202