| January 21 | Tsar Ivan IV defeats False Dmitri, who claims to be the true tsar |
| April 25 | Count Maurits' army lands at Cadzand |
| May 12 | Spanish garrison of Aardenburg surrenders to Mauritius |
| August 20 | Spanish garrison of Sluis surrenders to count Maurice |
| September 20 | Spanish army under Spinola recaptures Oostende |
| October 8 | Supernova "Kepler's nova" 1st sighted |
| November 1 | William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello" 1st presented |
| December 31 | Admiral Steven van der Haghen's fleet reaches Bantam |