By TrivBits, History Desk — Published October 2, 2026
Table of Contents
- Key Takeaways
- How the Longest War That Lasted Years Actually Started
- Three Centuries of Forgotten Conflict
- The Discovery and Peace Declaration
- Comparing History’s Strangest Conflicts
- Why This Historical Oddity Matters
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
History books overflow with tales of devastating conflicts that reshaped civilizations and cost millions of lives. But tucked away in the annals of the past is a war so peculiar it defies every expectation of what armed conflict means. The longest war that lasted years—335 of them, to be exact—between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly resulted in precisely zero casualties, no battles, and was so forgotten that it took centuries for anyone to remember to end it.
This bizarre chapter of historical trivia began in the 17th century during England’s bloody civil war era. The conflict between these two parties was never actually fought, yet it technically remained active for more than three centuries, outlasting empires and spanning an age when the world transformed beyond recognition.
Key Takeaways
- The Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years’ War between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly lasted from 1651 to 1986 without a single shot fired in anger.
- The war began during the English Civil War when Dutch Admiral Maarten Tromp demanded reparations from Royalist forces hiding in the Scilly Isles.
- No peace treaty was ever signed when hostilities theoretically ended, leaving the nations technically at war for over three centuries.
- The conflict was finally resolved in 1986 when historian Roy Duncan brought it to public attention, prompting an official peace declaration.
- Despite its impressive duration, this remains one of the only wars in recorded history with zero casualties on either side.
- The “war” serves as a fascinating example of how historical bureaucracy and forgotten paperwork can create absurd situations.
How the Longest War That Lasted Years Actually Started
The roots of this peculiar conflict stretch back to 1651. England was tearing itself apart during the civil war between Parliamentarians and Royalists. The Isles of Scilly, a small archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, had become a haven for Royalist forces loyal to the executed King Charles I. These islands served as a base for privateers who raided ships supporting Parliament’s cause.
The Dutch Republic had its own problems. Dutch shipping was suffering losses from these Royalist privateers operating from Scilly. Admiral Maarten Tromp sailed to the islands and demanded reparations for the damages inflicted on Dutch vessels. The Royalists, already stretched thin and fighting for survival, ignored the demand entirely.
Frustrated by the lack of response, Tromp declared war on the Isles of Scilly on March 30, 1651. The declaration itself was somewhat theatrical—the Dutch never actually intended to invade the tiny islands. Within months, Parliamentary forces defeated the Royalists and took control of Scilly anyway, rendering the entire Dutch grievance moot.
But here’s where historical bureaucracy created something extraordinary. No one ever bothered to sign a peace treaty.
Three Centuries of Forgotten Conflict
As decades rolled into centuries, the “war” existed only on paper. The Netherlands and England maintained generally friendly relations throughout this period. They fought together as allies in later conflicts. They traded extensively. Dutch monarchs even ruled England after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Yet technically, legally, absurdly—the Netherlands remained at war with the Isles of Scilly.
No one remembered. Why would they? The original participants died within years of the declaration. The English Civil War ended. The world moved on through the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, and the atomic age. The Isles of Scilly, with a population of just a few thousand people spread across five inhabited islands, certainly weren’t concerned about a Dutch invasion.
The situation perfectly illustrates how the machinery of historical record-keeping sometimes preserves absurdities. Unlike ancient civilizations whose conflicts faded into legend, this was a modern bureaucratic oddity—a war that never happened but officially never ended.
The Discovery and Peace Declaration
In 1985, historian and chairman of the Isles of Scilly Council, Roy Duncan, stumbled upon references to the old declaration while researching local history. He found it amusing that his islands were theoretically still at war with a major European nation. What began as a historical curiosity turned into a campaign for official closure.
Duncan contacted the Dutch Embassy in London. Initial responses were skeptical—surely this couldn’t be real? But after reviewing historical records, Dutch authorities confirmed that no peace treaty had ever been signed. The oversight had persisted through multiple reorganizations of both Dutch and British governmental structures.
On April 17, 1986, Dutch Ambassador Jonkheer Rein Huydecoper traveled to the Isles of Scilly to sign a peace treaty officially ending the 335-year conflict. The ceremony was lighthearted, befitting a war that had never seen combat. Local officials and residents celebrated the end of the “world’s longest war” with appropriate fanfare and no small amount of humor.
The ambassador quipped that it must have been a relief to the Scilly residents to know the conflict was finally over, and they could sleep safely in their beds.
Comparing History’s Strangest Conflicts
| Conflict | Duration | Combatants | Casualties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years’ War | 335 years (1651-1986) | Netherlands vs. Isles of Scilly | Zero |
| Hundred Years’ War | 116 years (1337-1453) | England vs. France | Hundreds of thousands |
| Reconquista | Approximately 780 years (711-1492) | Christian kingdoms vs. Moorish states | Unknown, but substantial |
| Byzantine-Seljuk Wars | Roughly 400 years (1048-1450s) | Byzantine Empire vs. various Turkish states | Hundreds of thousands |
Why This Historical Oddity Matters
Beyond its entertainment value, this forgotten war reveals something profound about how we record and remember the past. Most conflicts that shaped civilizations are remembered for their violence, their heroes, their consequences. This one is remembered precisely because it had none of those things.
It demonstrates the gap between official history and lived experience. For 335 years, bureaucratic records maintained a state of war that had zero impact on anyone’s daily life. It’s a reminder that historical documents don’t always reflect historical reality.
The story also highlights how international relations have evolved over centuries. In an era when declarations of war can lead to global catastrophes within hours, the idea of a forgotten conflict persisting for over three centuries seems almost quaint. Modern diplomatic protocols and international organizations make such oversights far less likely today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was anyone actually killed during the 335-year war?
No. The war between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly resulted in zero casualties. No battles were fought, no shots were fired, and no military action of any kind took place during the entire 335-year period. It existed purely as a technical state of war on paper.
Why did it take so long to discover the war was still officially active?
The declaration was simply forgotten. Since no actual hostilities ever occurred and both parties maintained friendly relations, there was no reason for anyone to check whether a formal peace treaty existed. The oversight only came to light when a local historian researched the islands’ history in the 1980s.
Could something like this happen today?
It’s highly unlikely. Modern international law, the United Nations, and comprehensive diplomatic record-keeping make such oversights extremely improbable. Additionally, contemporary conflicts receive constant media attention and scrutiny that would make it nearly impossible for a state of war to be forgotten for centuries.
Are there other forgotten wars still technically active?
There have been a few similar cases, though none quite as long. Various territorial disputes and unresolved conflicts exist where formal peace treaties were never signed, but most involve ongoing tensions rather than completely forgotten declarations. The Netherlands-Scilly situation remains unique in its complete obscurity and duration.
The tale of the world’s longest war reminds us that history isn’t always written by the victors—sometimes it’s simply forgotten by everyone. In an age of instant communication and meticulous record-keeping, it’s oddly comforting to know that bureaucracy once moved so slowly that two places could technically be at war for over three centuries without anyone noticing. Perhaps somewhere in a dusty archive, another forgotten declaration awaits discovery, ready to surprise us with the past’s capacity for absurdity.