Home > Middelburg, Netherlands

Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of Zeeland province situated on the peninsula of Walcheren.

1 Population centers

• Arnemuiden
• Kleverskerke
• Middelburg
• Nieuw- en Sint Joosland
• Sint Laurens

2 The city of Middelburg

The city of Middelburg (population: about 38,000) dates back to the early 9th century or possibly the late 8th century. The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three defensive points erected on the island of Walcheren to guard against Viking raids. In 844 an abbey was built there, which remained in use until the Eighty Years' War, when the northern Netherlands won their independence from Spain. Today, the abbey is used both as a museum and as the seat of the provinical government. Middelburg was granted city rights in 1217.

In Medieval times, the city was an important trade centre, with goods coming from the cities of Flanders being shipped to England and vice versa.

During the Dutch Golden Age, Middelburg was an important trading city for the Dutch East India CompanyThe Dutch East India Company Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in Dutch, literally "United East Indies Company") was established on March 20, 1602, when the government of the Netherlands granted it a monopoly to carry out Dutch colonial activities. The houses in parts of the center are the same kind of lavish mansionAlmelo, The Netherlands Introduction A mansion is a large and stately dwelling house. The word itself derives (through Old French) from the Latin word mansus the past participle of manere "to dwell". The English word "manse" originally defined a propertys of rich merchants that can be found in cities like AmsterdamMunicipality of Amsterdam St Andrew's crosses are taken to represent these (though the crosses are even older than the motto). A popular tradition links the X's to the three threats to the city: Water, Fire and Pestilence. Alternate meanings: See Amsterda. There are also many storehouses dating back to the 17th century16th century 17th century 18th century more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601- 1700. During this period, the power of England and the United Provinces increased; while that of along the canalCanal du Midi in Toulouse, France Canals are man-made waterways, usually connecting existing lakes, rivers, or oceans. They are used for transportation, often by barges or narrowboats on smaller canals, and by ships on ship canals that connect to the oceas. The old city moatMoats were deep and wide trenches, usually filled with water, to provide a barrier against attack upon castle ramparts or other fortifications. Often streams were diverted in the Middle Ages to fill the ditch. Moats required upkeep. They had to be dredgeds are still there, as is one of the city gates, the Koepoort gate. Part of the 18th century moat and defence works however were demolished in the 19th century to make way for the Canal through Walcheren, which runs from Vlissingen to Veere.

Much of the old city centre was bombed flat on May 17, 1940 by the Luftwaffe, to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. After the war, the centre was rebuilt as much as possible on prewar lines. The city's archives however, were lost to the flames.

Middelburg has a railway station with connections to Vlissingen and Roosendaal.