In 1574 William had at his side a Council of Admiralty erected by the Provincial Estates, but Leicester in 1585 was annoyed by the immediate control of naval matters being withdrawn from the governor-general and the Council of State.

He succeeded therefore in obtaining a division of the Council of Admiralty into three Chambers, shortly afterwards increased to five--Rotterdam, Hoorn with Enkhuizen, Veere, Amsterdam and Harlingen with Dokkum.

In 1597 it was determined that each Admiralty should consist of seven members nominated by the States-General.

The Admiral-General presided over each College and over joint meetings of the five Colleges.

The Admiralties nominated the lieutenants of the ships and proposed a list of captains to be finally chosen by the States-General.