| January 22 | English queen Elizabeth I grants Thomas Tallis and William Byrd music press monopoly |
| February 8 | University of Leiden Netherlands opens |
| February 11 | King Frederick of Denmark offers island of Hveen to Tycho Brahe |
| June 12 | William of Orange marries Charlotte de Bourbon |
| June 28 | Spanish troops conquer Buren |
| July 12 | Willem van Orange marries Charlotte de Bourbon |
| July 19 | Spanish viceroy Gilles of Hierges attacks Oudewater |
| August 7 | Spanish troops conquer Oudewater, almost all inhabitants died |
| September 16 | King Johan Casimir of Palts promises military aid to hugenots |
| November 8 | French Roman Catholics and Huguenots signs treaty |
| December 14 | Polish Parliament selects Istvan Bathory as king of Poland |
