The Watergeuzen (or simply Geuzen) were a fleet of privateers during the Eighty Years' War, the Low Countries' (or Netherlands') rebellion against the Spanish occupation, which began during the reign of Philip II of Spain (in the 1550s).

Geuzen may derive from the French gueux ("beggars"); the name was probably given by their enemies.

The Watergeuzen consisted of a host of various nobles, intellectuals, merchants, fishermen and countless refugees. From 1568 the rebel Prince William of Orange tried to win the Watergeuzen for his cause. To this end he authorized them to conduct raids and pillage with a letter of marque (making them privateers, not pirates).

The salient moment in history for the Watergeuzen came when they succeeded in capturing Den Briel on April 1 1572, effectively sealing off the Meuse from the Spaniards.

Note

In this period before the existence of a Netherlands nation state, "Netherlands" or "Low Countries" referred to an area embracing both the modern-day Netherlands and modern-day Belgium. The Northern Netherlands comprised more or less what we now know as the Netherlands, whereas The Southern Netherlands included Belgium. (See also History of the Netherlands.)