| January 1 | Geuzen sets fire to Woudrichem |
| February 11 | 1st European, Francis Drake sees the Pacific (from Panama) |
| March 7 | Turkey and Venice signs peace treaty |
| May 9 | Polish Parliament selects duke of Anjou as king |
| July 6 | Pacificatie of Boulogne: new peace treaty with huguenots |
| July 13 | Haarlem surrenders after 7 months to Spanish army |
| July 16 | Alva demands submission of Zealand/Holland |
| August 7 | Francis Drakes fleet returns to Plymouth |
| September 18 | Spanish attack Alkmaar |
| October 9 | Don Frederik disbands siege of Alkmaar |
| October 11 | Battle of South Seas - Dutch rebels beat Spanish navy |
| November 29 | Don Luis de Requesensy Zuniga succeeds duke of Alva as land guardian of Netherlands |
