The Battle on the Zuiderzee (October 11; 1573). naval battle during the Eighty Years' War in which a Dutch fleet destroyed a larger and better-equipped Spanish fleet on the Zuiderzee. In 1573 the Spanish Governor Maximilian de Henin Count of Bossu sent a fleet consisting of about 30 ships to halt the attacks and destroy the enemy force. This fleet also included his flagship; the Inquisition. It was not until October 11 that the wind turned and the Dutch could execute a surprise attack. During this attack; the Spanish flagship was boarded by the Dutch and during the course of the battle ran aground.