 He served as captain of "Groningen" in the First Anglo-Dutch War, being promoted to full captain in 1653, becoming flag captain of Vice-Admiral Witte de With on "Vrijheid", fighting in the Battle of the Gabbard and the Battle of Scheveningen.In 1654 he had convoy duty in the Mediterranean.In 1656, in the Dutch-Portuguese War, he took two merchantmen during the blockade of Portugal.