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Warfare History

10 Times Nature Stopped Human Conflict

Darren February 24, 2026 5 min

5. Floods Save the Dutch from Spanish Conquest

5. Floods Save the Dutch from Spanish Conquest
Innovative water defenses in 1574 thwarted the Spanish siege of Leiden during the Eighty Years’ War.

During the Eighty Years’ War, Dutch forces employed ‘water line’ defenses, deliberately breaching dykes to flood low-lying areas in 1574. This manmade alliance with nature stopped the Spanish siege of Leiden and protected the city. The success of this strategy inspired future uses of water in defense. Details on Encyclopedia Britannica.

Written by
Darren

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