In 1607 rumours reached Holland of the gathering of a large Spanish fleet at Gibraltar, whose destination was the East-Indies.

The directors of the Company were much alarmed, an alarm which was shared by the States-General, many of whose deputies were cargo-shareholders.
Accordingly, in April, 1607, a fleet of twenty-six vessels set sail for the purpose of seeking out and attacking the Spaniards whether in harbour or on the open sea.

The command was given to one of the most daring and experienced of Dutch seamen, Jacob van Heemskerk.

He found twenty-one ships still at anchor in Gibraltar Bay, ten of them large galleons, far superior in size and armament to his own largest vessels.
Heemskerk at once cleared for action.

Both Heemskerk and the Spanish commander, d'Avila, were killed early in the fight, the result of which however was not long doubtful.