Cika wannan jumla:
An fara yakin neman 'yancin kai na Belgium, an ba Van Speijk umurnin wani jirgin ruwa na Dutch. Van Speijk ya raina motsi na 'yancin kai na Belgium, kuma ya ce zai gwammace ya mutu "da zama sanannen Brabander". A ranar 5 ga Fabrairu, 1831, guguwa ta yi wa jirginsa da ke ɗauke da bindigogi bulala a tashar jiragen ruwa na Antwerp. 'Yan Belgium da sauri suka mamaye jirginsa, suna buƙatar Van Speijk ya cire tutar Holland. Maimakon ya ba da jirginsa, sai ya harbe bindiga (wasu juyi sun ce ya jefa sigari mai haske) a cikin ganga na barbashi a cikin mujallar jirgin. A cewar almara, ya yi kururuwa "Dan liever de lucht in" (Zan fi son a busa ni). Ba a san adadin mutanen Belgium da aka kashe ba, ko da yake mai yiwuwa sun kai dozin. Ashirin da takwas daga cikin ma'aikatansa 31 sun mutu a fashewar.