Battle of Krabbendam
Introduction


The **Battle of Krabbendam** (also called the **Battle of Zijpedijk**) of 10 September 1799 was fought during the [Anglo\-Russian invasion of Holland](/wiki/Anglo-Russian_invasion_of_Holland "Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland") between forces of the [French Republic](/wiki/France "France") and her ally, the [Batavian Republic](/wiki/Batavian_Republic "Batavian Republic"), under the command of French general [Guillaume Marie Anne Brune](/wiki/Guillaume_Marie_Anne_Brune "Guillaume Marie Anne Brune") on one side, and a British division under general Sir [Ralph Abercromby](/wiki/Ralph_Abercromby "Ralph Abercromby") on the other. The British division had established a [bridgehead](/wiki/Bridgehead "Bridgehead") in the extreme north of the [North\-Holland](/wiki/North_Holland "North Holland") peninsula after the [Battle of Callantsoog (1799\)](/wiki/Battle_of_Callantsoog_%281799%29 "Battle of Callantsoog (1799)"). Brune tried to dislodge them before they could be reinforced by further Anglo\-Russian forces, but the British prevailed. This enabled the British and their Russian allies to land their expeditionary force and to break out of the bridgehead during the [Battle of Bergen (1799\)](/wiki/Battle_of_Bergen_%281799%29 "Battle of Bergen (1799)").


Why did the British establish a bridgehead in North Holland?