Battle of Houthalen

The Battle of Houthalen was a battle of the Ten Days' Campaign during the Belgian Revolution. The battle took place on 6 August 1831. The Dutch army defeated the Belgian rebels and continued further to the Belgian inlands.

The Battle
After the victorious battles of Ravels and Turnhout Prince William II at the head of the Dutch army continued with a military intervention against the Belgian Revolution as the part of the Ten Days' Campaign. On 6 August Dutch forces clashed with a Belgian rebel forces near Houthalen-Helchteren in a border Limburg province. The Dutch took a decisive victory, mainly thanks to a seize action of the 2nd Division of Frisian Archery.

Conflict lasted for six another days and included several another clashes such as battle of Hasselt and the battle of Leuven. Finally on 13 August 1831 the truce was arranged the Dutch pulled back. The last Dutch troops withdrew on 20 August.

At the cemetery of Houthalen a commemorative cross was erected after the battle. Dutch painter Nicolaas Pieneman portrayed Lieutenat-General Frederik Knotzer in the battle on his painting from 1834.