Barend Hals served the Admiralty of Amsterdam. Frank Fox does not list him as being present at the Battle of Lowestoft. In August 1665, Captain Hals commanded the frigate Wapen van Leiden (38 guns). He seems to have missed all the major battles of the Second Anglo-Dutch War. On December 25 1666 (Old Style) his ship, along with the Elias and Klein Harder, were captured by the English. The Leiden (as it was more usually called) was burnt.
Barend Hals served in the Third Anglo-Dutch War, and played a more active role. He started the war in command of the frigate Asperen (30 guns), and was present at the Battle of Solebay. His ship had 3 killed and 14 wounded in the battle. In 1673, he had moved to the Gideon (60-62 guns), and fought in the Schooneveld battles and the Battle of the Texel.
