One of a series of drawings made by Van de Velde the Elder when he was attached to the Dutch fleet following the action at Bergen on 2 August 1665, early in the second Anglo-Dutch War. This view of the Dutch fleet was probably drawn shortly after the related drawing PAI7681. Both show the fleet under the command of Lieutenant-Admiral Cornelis Tromp conducting a council of war on 5 August 1665. Shortly after, Tromp handed over command of the fleet to Michiel de Ruyter.

In the right middle distance, in starboard quarter view and surrounded by a crowd of boats, is Tromp’s ship the ‘Liefde’ brought-to, flying a flag and pendant at her mizzen peak. On her port quarter is the ‘Hof van Zeeland’ under main topsail and mizzen, commanded by Cornelis Evertsen. Ahead of Tromp is De Liefde in the ‘Groot Hollandia’, flying a flag at the mizzen and a pendant at the main. In the right foreground is a galjoot under sail and another drifting; to the left is another galjoot and a despatch vessel also drifting. There is a large number of ships in the background.