Battle of Turnhout (1831)

The Battle of Turnhout (1831) was a military engagement that took place on October 27, 1831, near the town of Turnhout, Belgium, during the Ten Days' Campaign, a conflict arising from the Belgian Revolution. The battle saw Belgian forces, largely composed of volunteers and inexperienced troops, clash with the invading Dutch army under the command of Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

Despite being outnumbered and less well-equipped, the Belgian forces, aided by a strategic deployment of artillery, managed to inflict a significant defeat on the Dutch. The Dutch army was forced to retreat, marking a notable victory for the nascent Belgian state and boosting morale among Belgian revolutionaries.

While not a decisive victory that ended the Ten Days' Campaign, the Battle of Turnhout (1831) played a significant role in bolstering Belgian confidence and demonstrating the resolve of the Belgian people to secure their independence. It also contributed to diplomatic pressure on the Netherlands to recognize Belgian independence. The battle is remembered in Belgium as a key moment in their struggle for nationhood.