Commemoration of the 350th anniversary of Dutch raid on the Medway in 1667

In commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Dutch raid on the river Medway in 1667, sometimes known as the Battle of the Medway  there will be a series of events bases both on and off the river.

Medway Yacht Club will be at the heart of the activities.  There will be two fleets of visiting Dutch yachts the first arriving  on Thursday 8 June and departing Monday 12 June with the second larger fleet arriving Wednesday 14 June. Many of the visitors will be making use of MYC’s fantastic facilities during their stay.

Moorings

A number of visiting Dutch boats will be moored at MYC and other yacht clubs. Mooring allocation is being undertaken centrally with priority given to visiting Dutch yachts. MYC is currently unable to accept any further applications for moorings during this period.

Trot Boat Service

MYC and USC will be running a trot boat service from 08:00 –to 11:00 and from 16:00 to 23:00 on all days during the commemorations 8th to 19th June the boats will be operating on VHF channel 37 (M1).  There will normally be one boat available but this will be supplemented in busy periods.

Galley

MYC will be offering an extended galley service with breakfast available from 08:00 with a number of social activities

Activities at MYC

Thursday 8 June

• Fleet one arrives
• Sail Past with salute taken by a member of the Dutch Royal Family
• Trot boat and RIB available during the day to help visitors locate moorings
• Galley and Bar open

Saturday 10 June

• Hog Roast and Sea Shanties – group “Loose Cannon”

Wednesday 14 June

• Fleet two arrives
• Trot Boat and RIB available during the day to help visitors locate moorings
• Wednesday evening racing at MYC – Dutch sailors welcome meet at MYC at 18:00. Race starts at 19:00

Thursday 15 June

• Quiz Night and “Pub Meal” served at MYC – for Dutch Visitors Only (Galley & Bar closed to Members)

Friday 16 June

• Hog Roast and Sea Shanties group “Loose Cannon

Saturday 17 June

• Montgomery Race – A race from MYC line our round the wreck of the Montgomery and back to MYC . Visiting yachts welcome to participate -registration will be required
• Medway in Flames display including fireworks This spectacular finale will depict the events leading to the raid on the Royal Dockyard at Chatham, Upnor Castle and the ships of the English Royal Navy anchored on the River Medway
  • Water screens, digital projection, characters from history, pyrotechnics, special effects and fireworks will bring the Battle of Medway to life.

Other activities

Below is a list of activities occurring during the period of commemoration as we currently know them but some of these are subject to change, we will endeavour to keep this updated as plans develop.

Wednesday 7th June

Arrival of British and Dutch Naval Ships Royal Navy and Dutch Navy ships will be arriving and mooring in Basin 2, Chatham Maritime. 7th June to 12th June.

Thursday 8th June

Civic Event, Chatham Historic Dockyard To be attended by two high profile VIPs from UK and the Netherlands. Royal Navy Frigate and Royal Marines Band and Royal Netherlands Navy Ocean Patrol Vessel and Marine Corps Band in attendance. The warships will be moored in Chatham Maritime (Basin 2) from 7th June to 12th June 2017. All civic events are not open to the public and by invitation only.

Arrival of First Dutch sailing yacht fleet Over 100 visiting Dutch yachts arrive for the festival at around 11am. Salute sail by Upnor Castle. Fleet to include some interesting vessels including the Morgenster, the Iris, the Urania and the George Stephenson.

Dutch Tile Painting at Eastgate House Painting workshop for adults (evening)

The Dutch are Coming! Writing Fact and Fiction about the Anglo-Dutch wars Thursday, 8 June 2017, 7.30pm, Gillingham Library A talk by J D Davies – prominent naval historian author. His next book, to be published this summer, is set against the backdrop of the Dutch attack. The Dutch may have raided the Medway, but why did the two countries go to war with each other at all, not just once, but three times? Historian and author J D Davies explores the reasons, and also talks about his acclaimed series of naval fiction set during the wars, the Journals of Matthew Quinton (‘a series of real panache’ – The Times).

Mini Youth Games – Football

Around 3,700 primary school children take part in the Mini Youth Games series each year.  The Games are open to pupils from every primary school child in Medway and invitational external schools.

Prizes are awarded at each event and points are gained towards the overall MYG title. A fair play trophy is awarded at each event.  The MYG Football event will attract over 50 primary schools and this year the event will be given the theme of The Battle of Medway.

Friday 9th June

Dickens Festival, Rochester A major three day festival held in historic Rochester to commemorate the life of Charles Dickens and celebrate his links with Medway, parades, talks, readings and lots of  colourful characters along Rochester High Street  9th – 11th June 10 am to 6pm each day.

Sitting Volleyball; The Netherlands, Canada and GB Womens

Fresh from Rio, Paralympic Qualifiers Canada are returning to Medway to take on GB and for the first time The Netherlands in this face paced Paralympic Sport.  Showcasing our very own ‘Battle’ GB men and women will take on Paralympic qualifiers The Netherlands and Canada at Medway Park.  With the Dutch women ranked 5th in the world this promises to be a thrilling opportunity to watch professional sport at Medway Park.  Sitting Volleyball in one of the more popular Paralympic sports due to the fast and exciting action.  The Medway International will be held over three days from Friday 9th June to Sunday 11th June and looks to be a fiercely competitive tournament.  Canada and The Netherlands are two of only eight teams to qualify for Rio.

Army vs Navy football match (provisional)

The Armed Forces will be taking part in our own ‘Dutch Battle as the British Army take on the Dutch navy in a friendly football match.  With both teams being highly competitive and pride up for stake, you can bet the traditional rivalry between Army and Navy will be in full force.  To be Confirmed

Dutch Royal Marine band Concert A Dutch royal marine band concert to be held at the St Georges Centre, Chatham on Friday 9th Jun. Invitation only

British and Dutch Naval Ships Visit the Royal Navy and Dutch Navy ships in Basin 2, Chatham Maritime

Saturday 10th June

Dickens Festival, Rochester A major three day festival held in historic Rochester to commemorate the life of Charles Dickens and celebrate his links with Medway, parades, talks, readings and lots of  colourful characters along Rochester High Street  9th – 11th June 10 am to 6pm each day.

Royal Marine band and Dutch Royal Marine band Concert A truly Anglo Dutch concert with two marine bands to be held at the St Georges Centre, Chatham on Saturday 10th June

The Dutch Are Coming! at Upnor Castle Step back in time to 1667 at Upnor Castle with living history events and activities telling the story of the Dutch Raid. 10th and 11th June 2017 from 10am until 5pm each day.

Rowing Match Potential retired Dutch marines rowing match from Sheerness to the Historic Dockyard Chatham – 10th June. Ending at Thunderbolt Pier at 12 noon. To Be Confirmed

Sitting Volleyball

The Netherlands, Canada and GB Women’s

International Handball Handball is the most exciting, high scoring, action packed team sport and it makes a welcome return to Medway with European Cup clubs, London GD Handball club taking on dutch club KRAS Volendam in what looks to be an exciting match.  Both clubs will be looking to out do the other as London GD has international players from The Netherlands as part of their team and tensions will be high.

British and Dutch Naval Ships Visit the Royal Navy and Dutch Navy ships in Basin 2, Chatham Maritime

Dutch Tile Painting at Eastgate House Painting workshop for families

Story Telling Sessions Story telling about the Battle of Medway at the 4 main hub libraries – Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and Chatham.

Sunday 11th June

Dickens Festival, Rochester A major three day festival held in historic Rochester to commemorate the life of Charles Dickens and celebrate his links with Medway, parades, talks, readings and lots of  colourful characters along Rochester High Street  9th – 11th June 10 am to 6pm each day.

From Fire to Friendship, service at Rochester Cathedral To be held at Evensong and to be combined with the Mayor of Medway’s Dedication Service with before and after from the Breda choir on Sunday 11th June

The Dutch Are Coming! at Upnor Castle Step back in time to 1667 at Upnor Castle with living history events and activities telling the story of the Dutch Raid. 10th and 11th June 2017 from 10am until 5pm each day.

British and Dutch Naval Ships Visit the Royal Navy and Dutch Navy ships in Basin 2, Chatham Maritime

Sitting Volleyball The Netherlands, Canada and GB men’s and women’s

Monday 12th June

British and Dutch Naval Ships Leave The Royal Navy and Dutch Navy ships leave Medway from Basin 2, Chatham Maritime

Wednesday 14th June

Medway Schools Giant Chain Schools from across Medway meet up to link together a massive chin representing the chain used in the Battle of Medway to try and stop enemy warships.

Arrival of Second Dutch Yacht Fleet A further 100 Dutch yachts arrive for the festivities

Friday 16th June

Medway Design and Regeneration Awards An awards ceremony to celebrate the many excellent construction projects across Medway in the last 10 years.  Medway has transformed over the last decade and continues to do so with investments in a new rail station and entirely new and modern projects of homes and leisure facilities.  Add this to the regeneration plans for Rochester Riverside, Strood, and Chatham town centres and Chatham Waterfront and Medway’s regeneration programme shows no signs of slowing down. By invitation only.

Saturday 17th June

Medway In Flames

A major public event utilizing Upnor Castle as the backdrop, depicting the Dutch Raid on the River Medway and Chatham Dockyard. The ‘foot-print’ for the event will include the water basins at St Mary’s island, the Ship & Trades, the Outlet Centre, Chatham Historic Dockyard and Upnor Reach. The day starts at

2.00pm onwards – General activities such as fairs, stalls, food and drink – Basin 2

4.00pm – 9.00pm – Live English and Dutch folk music on stage, walkabout entertainment – location tbc

5.30pm – 6.00pm (subject to tides) – Anglo Dutch River Pageant

6.00pm-8.00pm – a variety of water activities opposite Upnor castle such as Fly Boarding, Jet Ski displays

9.30pm-10.30pm – Medway In Flames Spectacular finale depicting the events leading up to the raid on the Royal Dockyard at Chatham, Upnor Castle and the ships of the English Royal Navy anchored on the River Medway. Celebrating 350 years of friendship and co-operation between our two nations since the conclusion of the Anglo-Dutch wars, Medway in Flames will be a sensational finale to our festival of cultural, sporting and educational events.

Medway Big Ride The Medway Big Ride was launched in 2014 to encourage Medway to get on their bikes!  It offers opportunities for all ages, from experienced endurance cyclists to young children and non cyclists.  Incorporating sportives, run by our partner Evans, family rides to children’s’ races and trails.  The Big Ride is supported by the Medway Public Health Team’s Active Medway cycling programme and local and national cycling clubs and organisations, including British Cycling and supports Medway’s Cycling Action Plan 2015/18, which sets out how Medway will encourage residents to lead healthier, more active lifestyles through cycling.  New for this year is the Brompton Challenge, Yedoo  Scooters, pump tracks and  gravity trick shows.  If its on wheels its here at the Big Ride.

Anglo Dutch Fencing Match The Tenterden Swords Fencing Club (home of numerous national and Commonwealth champions) will compete against the Pallos fencing club of Utrecht between 10am and 5pm in the spectacular Slip No.3 at the Historic Dockyard Chatham.

Ghost Hunt

Fort Borstal Ghost Hunt Saturday 17th June; Experience a night of ghost hunting at Fort Borstal, participate in this paranormal investigation 8pm – 2am

ArtsFest

A free one-day festival to celebrate everything creative in Medway.  Incorporating live music, poetry and spoken words, dance including belly-dancing and hoop work, alternative street theatre, visual arts, martial arts, open studios, free creative workshops and an artisan market. (actual activities and timings to be confirmed)

Story Telling Sessions Story telling about the Battle of Medway at the 4 main hub libraries – Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and Chatham.

Battle of the Medway – Medway Council website

• Battle of Medway booklet