Middelburg () is a

city A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...

and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in the south-western

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

serving as the

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

of the

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...

. Situated on the central peninsula of the Zeeland province, ''Midden-Zeeland'' (consisting of former islands

Walcheren Walcheren () is a region and former island in the Dutch province of Zeeland at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Eastern Scheldt in the north and the Western Scheldt in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus. The two ...

Noord-Beveland Noord-Beveland (; "North Beveland") is a municipality and region in the southwestern Netherlands and a former island, now part of the Walcheren-Zuid-Beveland-Noord-Beveland peninsula. Noord-Beveland is enclosed by the Oosterschelde estuary to the ...

and

Zuid-Beveland Zuid-Beveland (; "South Beveland") is part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Western Scheldt and south of the Eastern Scheldt. Topography It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Bevelan ...

), it has a population of about 48,000. The city lies

as the crow flies __NOTOC__ The expression ''as the crow flies'' is an idiom for the most direct path between two points, rather similar to "in a beeline". This meaning is attested from the early 19th century, and appeared in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel '' Oliv ...

about 75 km south west of

Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"N ...

, 60 km north west of

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

and 40 km north east of

Bruges Bruges ( , nl, Brugge ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, in the northwest of the country, and the sixth-largest city of the countr ...

. In terms of technology, Middelburg played a role in the

Scientific Revolution The Scientific Revolution was a series of events that marked the emergence of modern science during the early modern period, when developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology (including human anatomy) and chemistry transfo ...

at the early modern period. The town was historically a center of lens crafting in the Golden Age of Dutch science and technology. The invention of the

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic means being invisibl ...

and

telescope A telescope is a device used to observe distant objects by their emission, absorption, or reflection of electromagnetic radiation. Originally meaning only an optical instrument using lenses, curved mirrors, or a combination of both to observe ...

is often credited to Middelburg spectacle-makers (including

Zacharias Janssen Zacharias Janssen; also Zacharias Jansen or Sacharias Jansen; 1585 – pre-1632) was a Dutch spectacle-maker who lived most of his life in Middelburg. He is associated with the invention of the first optical telescope and/or the first truly ...

and

Hans Lippershey Hans Lipperhey (circa 1570 – buried 29 September 1619), also known as Johann Lippershey or Lippershey, was a German-Dutch spectacle-maker. He is commonly associated with the invention of the telescope, because he was the first one who tried to ...

) in the late 16th century and early 17th century.

History

Gezicht op het stadhuis te Middelburg (1905-1915)

The city of Middelburg dates back possibly to the late 8th century or early 9th century. The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three fortified towns (''borgs'') erected on

(then an island) to guard against

Viking Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...

raids. In 844 a

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

was built on the site, which remained an active Catholic foundation until the Reformation. Foundations for Middelburg's "stately and picturesque" main church were first laid in the 10th century; additional construction continued through the Middle Ages. Middelburg was granted

city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

in 1217. During the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

, it became an important trading centre in the commerce between England and the rising cities of

Flanders Flanders (, ; Dutch: ''Vlaanderen'' ) is the Flemish-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, ...

, a fact commented on by

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer (; – 25 October 1400) was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for ''The Canterbury Tales''. He has been called the "father of English literature", or, alternatively, the "father of English poetry". He wa ...

in ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' ( enm, Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's ''Masterpiece, ...

''. The town continued to gain in power and prestige during the 13th and 14th centuries. From 1559 to 1603, Middelburg was the episcopal see of a Catholic

bishopric In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

covering all

Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...

. In the

Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Refo ...

, Middelburg was captured from the Spanish forces during a long siege (1572–1574). The northern provinces of the original Low Countries won their independence from their former Spanish Habsburg rulers and formed The Netherlands, a Protestant state. Later, in the 17th century (the

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...

), Middelburg became, after

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

's metropolis

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, the most important center for the

Dutch East India Company The United East India Company ( nl, Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, the VOC) was a chartered company established on the 20th March 1602 by the States General of the Netherlands amalgamating existing companies into the first joint-stock ...

(VOC) in the

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

of the Seven United Netherlands. As such, Middelburg also played an important role in the 17th century

slave trade Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

. Samuel Ben Israel, son of

Menasseh Ben Israel Manoel Dias Soeiro (1604 – 20 November 1657), better known by his Hebrew name Menasseh ben Israel (), also known as Menasheh ben Yossef ben Yisrael, also known with the Hebrew acronym, MB"Y or MBI, was a Portuguese rabbi, kabbalist, writ ...

, is buried in Middelburg at the Sephardic burial site located at the 'Jodengang' outside the citywall. Menasseh Ben Israel negotiated with

Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

the opening of England, and its colonies, to the Jews. Middelburg also has an Ashkenazic burial site, which is located at the Walensingel inside the city wall. In 1994 the synagogue was restored, as it was partially destroyed during the Second World War. This synagogue was the third one to be built in the Netherlands during the Golden Age. In the hall of the railway station there is a plaque of remembrance for the Jews of Zeeland who started their journey to the death camps from the Middelburg train station. Middelburg-plaats-OpenTopo

About a third of the old city centre was devastated by bombs and fire in the early phases of World War II, on May 17, 1940. It is still not certain if German bombers or French artillery were responsible. The town was captured and liberated by British troops during

Operation Infatuate Operation Infatuate was the code name given to an Anglo-Canadian operation in November 1944 during the Second World War to open the port of Antwerp to shipping and relieve logistical constraints. The operation was part of the wider Battle of the ...

on 6 November 1944. After the War, as much of the destroyed part of the old town center was rebuilt and restored along pre-War lines as far as was possible. The city's archives, however, had been incinerated during the German bombardment. Modern Middelburg has preserved and regained much of its historic and picturesque character. There are lavish 17th and 18th century merchant houses and storehouses standing along

canal Canals or artificial waterways are waterways or engineered channels built for drainage management (e.g. flood control and irrigation) or for conveyancing water transport vehicles (e.g. water taxi). They carry free, calm surface flow un ...

s, of a similar style as found in cities like

. The old city

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...

s are still there, as are two of the

city gate A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. It is a type of fortified gateway. Uses City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods ...

s, the Koepoort Gate and the varkenspoort Gate. Part of the 18th century moat and defence works, however, were demolished in the 19th century to make way for a commercial canal that crosses

from

Vlissingen Vlissingen (; zea, label=Zeelandic, Vlissienge), historically known in English as Flushing, is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic l ...

Veere Veere (; zea, label=Zeelandic, Ter Veere) is a municipality with a population of 22,000 and a town with a population of 1,500 in the southwestern Netherlands, in the region of Walcheren in the province of Zeeland. History The name ''Veere'' ...

. The medieval abbey is still in use today, as a museum and as the seat of the provincial government.

Notable locals

Ambrosius Bosschaert Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (18 January 1573 – 1621) was a Flemish-born Dutch still life painter and art dealer.still life A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly wikt:inanimate, inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or artificiality, m ...

painter of the

who worked most of his life in Middelburg. He had three sons,

Johannes Bosschaert Johannes Bosschaert (1606/08– 1628/29) was a member of the Bosschaert family of still life painters. Biography He was born in Middelburg, one of the three sons of Ambrosius Bosschaert, who painted flowers in a similar style.

(1606/08– 1628/29),

Ambrosius Bosschaert II Ambrosius Bosschaert II (1609–1645) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in flower paintings in the manner of his father Ambrosius Bosschaert. Biography Bosschaert was born in Middelburg. According to the RKD his works are confus ...

(1609–1645) and

Abraham Bosschaert Abraham Bosschaert the Younger (II.) (1612–1643) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography Bosschaert was born in Middelburg. According to the RKD, he was a member of the Bosschaert dynasty.Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...

painters. The painter Pieter Gaal, (1769–1819) was born, settled and died here, after traveling over Europe to paint. Another well-known citizen of Middelburg was the admiral and explorer

Jacob Roggeveen Jacob Roggeveen (1 February 1659 – 31 January 1729) was a Dutch explorer who was sent to find Terra Australis and Davis Land, but instead found Easter Island (called so because he landed there on Easter Sunday). Jacob Roggeveen also found Bora ...

, who was born in the city in 1659 and died there in 1729. Roggeveen discovered

Easter Island Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its nearl ...

(Rapa Nui) in the

South Pacific Ocean South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...

on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1722. Further discoveries on the same journey included islands of the

Tuamotu The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...

group, now part of

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

Petronella Johanna de Timmerman Petronella Johanna de Timmerman (31 January 1723, in Middelburg – 2 May 1786, in Utrecht) was a Dutch poet and scientist. Married in 1769 to Johann Friedrich Hennert, professor of mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. During her second marria ...

, scientist and poet, was born here in 1723. In 1774 she was inducted as an honorary member of the academy Kunstliefde Spaart Geen Vlijt. Also, she presented the academy with poems, translated from French plays. She died in

Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city and a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, pro ...

in 1786.

Suzanna Nannette Sablairolles (13-1-1829 – 13-1-1867)

The arts

Hortensia del Prado Hortensia del Prado (? – 1627) was a Dutch noblewoman and horticulturalist whose garden in Middelburg was featured by the poet Jacob Cats. Biography Whilst little is known about del Prado's early life, the names of her two husbands and her t ...

(? - 1627) a Dutch horticulturalist and noblewoman *

Adrianus Valerius Adrianus (Adriaen) Valerius, also known as Adriaen Valerius, (c. 1575 – 1625) was a Dutch poet and composer, known mostly for his poems dealing with peasant and burgher life and those dealing with the Dutch War of Independence, assembled ...

(ca.1575 – 1625) a Dutch poet and composer *

Jacob van Geel Jacob van Geel (c.1585–1648) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography Van Geel was born in Middelburg. According to the RKD his birthplace and teacher are not known.

(ca.1585 – 1648) a

painter. * Christoffel van den Berghe (ca.1590 – ca.1645) a

painter of landscapes *

Balthasar van der Ast Balthasar van der Ast (1593/94 – 7 March 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter who specialized in still lifes of flowers and fruit, as well as painting a number of remarkable shell still lifes; he is considered to be a pioneer in the genre ...

(1593/94 – 1657) a

painter * Pieter de Putter (ca.1600 – 1659) a Dutch still life painter * Daniël de Blieck (ca.1610 – 1673) a

painter, draughtsman and architect *

Philips Angel I Philips Angel I (bapt. 14 September 1616 - (after?) October 1683) was a Dutch painter of still lifes. Biography Philips Angel I left his native Middelburg in 1639 to establish himself as a still life painter in Haarlem. He entered the Haarlem ...

(1616–1683) a Dutch still-life painter *

Ariana Nozeman Ariana Nozeman (alt: A(d)riana Noseman/Nooseman): born Ariana van den Bergh (1626/1628 in Middelburg – December 7, 1661 in Amsterdam), was the first woman to play a leading role in a public play in The Netherlands. She made her debut on stage o ...

(1626/1628 – 1661) the first actress in The Netherlands *

Pieter Borsseler Pieter Borsseler or Pieter Borselaer (1633/1634 Middelburg - in or after 1687, Middelburg) was a Dutch portrait painter who was prominent in England during the second half of the 17th century. Borsseler was born in Middelburg. He was a student of ...

(ca.1633 – ca.1687) a Dutch portrait painter, prominent in England *

Pieter Bustijn Pieter Bustijn (; also Pierre Bustyn or Pieter Buystijn ; baptized in 1649 – 22 November 1729) was a Dutch composer, organist, harpsichordist and carillon player of the Baroque period. Bustijn occupies a very minor place in music literature: ...

(1649–1729) a composer, organist, harpsichordist and

carillon A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a keyboard and consists of at least 23 cast-bronze bells. The bells are hung in fixed suspension and tuned in chromatic order so that they can be sounded harmoniou ...

player *

Adriaen Coorte Adriaen Coorte (ca. 1665 – after 1707) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of still lifes, who signed works between 1683 and 1707. He painted small and unpretentious still lifes in a style more typical of the first half of the century, and was "on ...

(ca.1665 – ca.1707) a

painter of still-lifes *

Barend Cornelis Koekkoek Barend Cornelis Koekkoek (October 11, 1803 – April 5, 1862) was a Dutch landscape artist and lithographer. Biography Early life: 1803–1824 Barend Cornelis Koekkoek was born on 11 October 1803, in Middelburg, Zeeland. He was the first and el ...

(1803–1862) a Dutch landscape artist and

lithographer Lithography () is a planographic method of printing originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. The printing is from a stone (lithographic limestone) or a metal plate with a smooth surface. It was invented in 1796 by the German a ...

Suzanna Sablairolles Suzanna Nannette Sablairolles (13 January 1829, Middelburg, Zeeland, Middelburg – 13 January 1867, Amsterdam) was a Dutch stage actress. Life She was born to actor Jacob Henry Sablairolles (1793–1833) and costume dresser Johanna Scholten (17 ...

(1829–1867) a Dutch stage actress * Anna Adelaïde Abrahams (1849–1930) a Dutch still life painter * Henri Eduard Beunke (1851–1925) a Dutch writer, known for his literary regionalistic work * Herman Johannes van der Weele (1852–1930) a Dutch painter of the 2nd

Hague School The Hague School is a group of artists who lived and worked in The Hague between 1860 and 1890. Their work was heavily influenced by the Realism (visual arts), realist painters of the French Barbizon school. The painters of the Hague school genera ...

Pieter Cornelis Boutens Pieter Cornelis BoutensHis original family name was changed from Bouters to Boutens by a decision of the District Court of Middelburg, 14 March 1898, Act No. 79 (February 20, 1870 – March 14, 1943) was a Dutch poet, classicist, and mystic. Bi ...

(1870–1943) a Dutch poet, classicist, and mystic * Joost Baljeu (1925–1991) a Dutch painter, sculptor and writer * Paul van der Feen (born 1978) a Dutch saxophonist *

Carolyn Lilipaly Carolijn "Carolyn" Lilipaly (born July 22, 1969) is a Dutch news anchor and actress. Dutch-Moluccan Carolijn Lilipaly was born in Middelburg. Her father was former Dutch Labour Party parliament member John Lilipaly (1943-2022). After studying law ...

(born 1969) a Dutch news anchor and actress * Stefan de Vries (born 1970) a Dutch writer and journalist Balthasar Gerbier - Het Gulden Cabinet

Public thinking and public service

Paul of Middelburg Paul of Middelburg (1446 – 13 December 1534) was a scientist from Zeeland and bishop of Fossombrone. Biography and work Paul was born in 1446 at Middelburg, the ancient capital of the province of Zeeland, belonging then to the Holy Roman Empire, ...

(1446–1534) a Flemish scientist and

Bishop of Fossombrone The Italian Catholic diocese of Fossombrone existed in the province of Pesaro and Urbino until 1986, when it was united into the diocese of Fano-Fossombrone-Cagli-Pergola. It was a suffragan of the archdiocese of Urbino.

Philippe van Lansberge Johan Philip Lansberge (25 August 1561 – 8 December 1632) was a Flemish Calvinist Minister (Christianity), Minister, astronomer and Mathematician. His name is sometimes written Lansberg, and his first name is sometimes given as Philip or ...

(1561–1632) a Dutch Calvinist Minister, astronomer and mathematician * John Forbes (c.1568–1634) Founded a Church of Scotland *

Isaac Beeckman Isaac Beeckman (10 December 1588van Berkel, p10 – 19 May 1637) was a Dutch philosopher and scientist, who, through his studies and contact with leading natural philosophers, may have "virtually given birth to modern atomism".Harold J. Cook, in ...

(1588–1637) a Dutch philosopher and scientist * Sir

Balthazar Gerbier Sir Balthazar Gerbier (23 February 1592, in N.S. – 1663), was an Anglo-Dutch courtier, diplomat, art advisor, miniaturist and architectural designer, in his own words fluent in "several languages" with "a good hand in writing, skill in sciences ...

(1592–1663) an Anglo-Dutch courtier, diplomat, art advisor, miniaturist and architectural designer *

Paulus van de Perre Paulus van de Perre (Middelburg?, 1598? – London, 14 December 1653) was a Dutch politician and diplomat. He was one of the Dutch envoys who negotiated the Treaty of Westminster (1654) for the Dutch Republic with Lord Protector Oliver Cromwel ...

(ca.1598 – 1653 in London) a Dutch politician and diplomat, negotiated with

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three Ki ...

Adam Boreel Adam Boreel (2 November 1602 in Middelburg – 20 June 1665 in Sloterdijk, Amsterdam) was a Dutch theologian and Hebrew scholar. He was one of the founders of the Amsterdam College; the Collegiants were also often called Boreelists, and regarde ...

(1602–1665) a Dutch theologian and Hebrew scholar *

Margaretha Sandra Margaretha Sandra (7 January 1629 in Middelburg – 21 June 1674 in Aardenburg, Zeeland), was a Dutch heroine, known for her participation in the defense of Aardenburg during the two-night siege by the French in 1672. Life Margaretha grew up in Mi ...

(1629–1674) a Dutch military heroine in the siege of

Aardenburg Aardenburg is a small city close to the Dutch border with Belgium. It is part of the Sluis Municipality, located in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. Its medieval name was Rodenburgh (Red Castle). In the Sint-Baafskerk, (Saint Bavo's C ...

in 1672 *

Frederik van Leenhof Frederik van Leenhof (1 September 1647 – 13 October 1715) was a Dutch pastor and philosopher active in Zwolle, who caused an international controversy because of his Spinozist work ''Heaven on Earth'' (1703). This controversy is extensively di ...

(1647–1715) a controversial Dutch pastor and philosopher *

Adrian Beverland Hadriaan Beverland (Hadrianus Beverlandus, September–December 1650 Middelburg, Zeeland — 14 December 1716 London) was a Dutch humanist scholar who was banished from Holland in 1679 and settled in England in 1680. Early life Beverland was bor ...

(1650 — 1716 in London) a Dutch humanist scholar, banished in 1679 and settled in England *

Cornelius van Bynkershoek Cornelis van Bijnkershoek (a.k.a. ''Cornelius van Bynkershoek'') (29 May 1673, in Middelburg – 16 April 1743, in The Hague) was a Dutch jurist and legal theorist who was educated at the University of Franeker. After two years study, he began to ...

(1673–1743) a Dutch jurist and legal theorist *

Stephanus Versluys Stephanus Versluijs or Versluys (20 August 1694, in Middelburg – 27 February 1736, in Batavia, Dutch East Indies) was the 21st Governor of Dutch Ceylon. Versluijs was the son of Adriana de Muncq and Cornelis Versluijs, mayor of Middelburg and th ...

(1694–1736) the 21st

Governor of Dutch Ceylon The following is a list of governors of Dutch Ceylon. The Dutch arrived on the island of Ceylon on 2 May 1639. Parts of the island were incorporated as a colony administrated by the Dutch East India Company on 12 May 1656. The first governor, Wi ...

Reynier de Klerck Reynier de Klerck (or Reinier de Klerck) (1710–1780) was Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1778 until 1780. De Klerk's date of birth is not known but he was baptised on 19 November 1710 in Middelburg. He worked as midshipman aboar ...

(1710–1780)

Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies The governor-general of the Dutch East Indies ( nl, gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands Indië) represented Dutch rule in the Dutch East Indies between 1610 and Dutch recognition of the independence of Indonesia in 1949. Occupied by Japanese fo ...

1778/1780 *

Laurens Pieter van de Spiegel Laurens Pieter van de Spiegel (19 January 1736, in Middelburg – 7 May 1800, in Lingen) was Grand Pensionary of Zeeland and, from 9 November 1787 to 4 February 1795, of Holland. He was an Orangist, which means that he was a supporter of Prince W ...

(1736–1800) was Grand Pensionary of Zeeland *

Piet Meertens Pieter Jacobus (Piet) Meertens (Middelburg (Zeeland), Middelburg, 6 September 1899 – Amstelveen, 28 October 1985) was a Dutch scholar of literature, dialects, and ethnology. He founded the institutes which later merged into the Meertens Instituut ...

(1899–1985) a Dutch scholar of literature, dialects, and ethnology *

Etty Hillesum Esther (Etty) Hillesum (15 January 1914 – 30 November 1943) was the Dutch author of confessional letters and diaries which describe both her religious awakening and the persecutions of Jewish people in Amsterdam during the German occupation. I ...

(1914 – 1943 in Auschwitz) the Dutch author of confessional letters and diaries *

Hendricus Leopold Hendricus Leopold (29 August 1918 – 16 July 2008) was a Dutch diplomat. He helped prepare the opening of an embassy in Indonesia. He served as first ambassador of the Netherlands to Suriname, and as ambassador to India. Biography Leopold was b ...

(1918–2008), a Dutch diplomat, first Ambassador of the Netherlands to Suriname * Albert de Vries (born 1955) a Dutch politician, alderman of Middelburg 2002/2012 *

Han Polman Johannes Marcellus Maria "Han" Polman (born 16 January 1963) is a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66) party. He has been the King's Commissioner of Zeeland since 1 March 2013. Previously he was Mayor of Bergen op Zoom and Noordwijkerhout. ...

(born 1963) a Dutch politician, King's Commissioner of Zeeland since 2013 *

Harald Bergmann Harald M. Bergmann (born 23 September 1965, Rotterdam) is a Dutch politician of the VVD. Since August 27, 2012 he has been mayor of Middelburg, capital of the province of Zeeland. Before that, he was mayor of the municipality of Albrandswaard. ...

(born 1965) a Dutch politician, Mayor of Middelburg since 2012 Cecil Arthur Hoare c1930

Science and business

(1585 – ca.1632) a Dutch spectacle-maker, lived mostly in Middelburg. *

Alexander Daniell Alexander Daniell (12 December 1599 – 12 April 1668) was the sole proprietor of the Manor of Alverton, Cornwall from 1630 until his death in 1668. He was born in Middelburg in Walcheren, the son of Richard Daniel, clothier and citizen of Londo ...

(1599–1668) the sole proprietor of the

Manor of Alverton The Manor of Alverton was a former manorial estate located in the hundred of Penwith, west Cornwall, England, UK. History The first historical details of the manor were recorded in the Domesday book which stated that before the Norman conquest ...

, Cornwall 1630/1668 *

Pieter van Abeele Pieter van Abeele (1608 - February 21, 1684 (buried)) was a Dutch medallist and coiner in Amsterdam. Van Abeele was born in Middelburg. He perfected the technique of pressing hollow medals. He created the two sides of the medal separately and c ...

(1608–1684) a medallist, perfected the technique of pressing hollow medals *

Jan Goedart Johannes Goedaert (also spelled Goetaart, Goedhart, Goedaard or Jean Goedart in French) (19 March 1617 (baptized) – 15 January 1668 (buried)) was a Dutch Natural history, natur ...

(1617–1668) a Dutch naturalist, entomologist and painter *

Steven Blankaart Steven Blankaart (24 October 1650, Middelburg, Zeeland, Middelburg – 23 February 1704, Amsterdam) was a Dutch physician, iatrochemist, and Entomology, entomologist, who worked on the same field as Jan Swammerdam. Blankaart proved the exist ...

(1650–1704) a Dutch physician,

iatrochemist Iatrochemistry (; also known as chemiatria or chemical medicine) is a branch of both chemistry and medicine. Having its roots in alchemy, iatrochemistry seeks to provide chemical solutions to diseases and medical ailments. This area of science h ...

, and

entomologist Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...

Pieter Boddaert Pieter Boddaert (1730 – 6 May 1795) was a Dutch physician and natural history, naturalist. Early life, family and education Boddaert was the son of a Middelburg jurist and poet by the same name (1694–1760). The younger Pieter obtained his M.D ...

(1730–1795) a Dutch physician and naturalist *

Franz Zacharias Ermerins Franz Zacharias Ermerins (also Franciscus, Frans, François) (8 November 1808 in Middelburg, Zeeland, Middelburg – 29 May 1871 in Groningen (city), Groningen) was a Dutch physician and medical editor whose literary work encompassed Hippocrat ...

(1808–1871) a Dutch physician and medical editor *

Jan Adrianus Herklots Jan Adrianus Herklots (born 17 August 1820 in Middelburg, Zeeland; died 31 March 1872 in Zoeterwoude) was a Dutch zoologist whose main areas of research were carcinology and the echinoderms . Herklots studied medicine and biology at the Universit ...

(1820–1872) a Dutch zoologist, researched

carcinology Carcinology is a branch of zoology that consists of the study of crustaceans, a group of arthropods that includes lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill, copepods, barnacles and crabs. Other names for carcinology are malacostracology, crustaceology, ...

and the

echinoderms An echinoderm () is any member of the phylum Echinodermata (). The adults are recognisable by their (usually five-point) radial symmetry, and include starfish, brittle stars, sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea cucumbers, as well as the sea li ...

Cecil Hoare Cecil Arthur Hoare (6 March 1892 – 23 August 1984) Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS was a British protozoologist and parasitologist. Early life and education Hoare was born in Middelburg, Zeeland, Middelburg, Netherlands, the illegitimate ...

FRS (1892–1984) a British

protozoologist Protozoology is the study of protozoa, the "animal-like" (i.e., motile and heterotrophic) protists. The Protozoa are considered to be a subkingdom of Protista. They are free-living organisms that are found in almost every habitat. All humans have pr ...

and

parasitologist Parasitology is the study of parasites, their hosts, and the relationship between them. As a biological discipline, the scope of parasitology is not determined by the organism or environment in question but by their way of life. This means it f ...

Lili Bleeker Caroline Emilie "Lili" Bleeker (17 January 1897 – 8 November 1985) was a Dutch entrepreneur and physicist from Middelburg known for her designs and the manufacturing of optical instruments. In the era she grew up, it was the norm for women to be ...

(1897–1985) a Dutch entrepreneur and physicist, designed and made optical instruments *

Cees Maas Cees Maas (born May 1, 1947, Middelburg, Zeeland, Middelburg) is a former chief financial officer and vice chairman of the executive board for ING Group. He has been with the company since 1992 and became CFO in 1996. He graduated from Erasmus Univ ...

(born 1947) former

chief financial officer The chief financial officer (CFO) is an officer of a company or organization that is assigned the primary responsibility for managing the company's finances, including financial planning, management of financial risks, record-keeping, and financ ...

of the

ING Group The ING Group ( nl, ING Groep) is a Dutch multinational banking and financial services corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. Its primary businesses are retail banking, direct banking, commercial banking, investment banking, wholesale bankin ...

Sport

Jan Poortvliet Jan Poortvliet (; born 21 September 1955) is a Dutch professional football coach and a former player who played as a left-back. He works as the coach of the Under-18 squad of FC Eindhoven He represented the Netherlands national team at the 1 ...

(born 1955) a retired football defender with 531 club caps *

Elisabeth Willeboordse Elisabeth Willeboordse (born 14 September 1978 in Middelburg, Zeeland) is a female judoka from the Netherlands, who won the title in the women's –63 kg division at the 2005 European Championships. A year later, when Tampere, Finland ho ...

(born 1978) a female judoka, bronze medallist at the

2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...

Geography and climate

Aside from the town of Middelburg, the municipality also includes several population centres, including:

Arnemuiden Arnemuiden is a city of around 5000 people in the municipality of Middelburg in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands. It is located on the former island of Walcheren, about 3 km east of the city of Middelburg. On the 23 September 1338, ...

Kleverskerke Kleverskerke is a small village in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is located in the municipality of Middelburg, about 4 kilometres north-east of the city centre. History The village was first mentioned in 1251 as Clawarskerke, and means "(pr ...

Nieuw- en Sint Joosland Nieuw- en Sint Joosland of Nieuwland (Zeeuws: 't Nieuwland) is a village and a former municipality in the southeast of Walcheren, at the edge of the island, in the municipality Middelburg, in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It has about 1300 inha ...

and

Sint Laurens Sint Laurens is a village in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is located in the municipality of Middelburg, about 3 km north of the city. History The village was first mentioned in the 13th century as "ecclesia sancti Laurentii alias Popk ...

. The town is close to the coast but the distance of 10–15 km means the winters are somewhat colder with especially lower winter minima and higher summer maxima. It has a temperate oceanic climate (Cfb) with few extremes. Winters tend to be mild, especially considering the northern latitude, summers are cool and precipitation is spread out evenly over the year. All seasons are warming up by about 0,5 C/decade due to anthropogenic warming. The extremes measured since 2000, 2 km northeast of the town in the countryside with calibrated equipment have been -17,2 C on the 4th of February 2012 and 40,9 C on the 25th of July 2019, the latter unofficially being a new Dutch all-time high record, slightly above the 40,7 C measured at Gilzerijen KNMI and 40,6 C in Westdorpe. Vlissingen KNMI measured -11,0 C and 37,5 C on the same dates, clearly showing how much the influence is diminished just 8 km further inland. The climate is warming due to anthropogenic influences, clearly witnessed by the fact that the previous record of 37,5 C was measured just a year before. Also, in the past minima have been at and probably below -20 C in winter months. Snowcover, days with airfrost and icedays (Tx < 0,0 C) have greatly diminished and with it ice speedskating on the canals, a favourite sport in the winter months, has become very infrequent since 2013 especially.

Gallery

File:Middelburg Dam en Prins Hendrikdok. Zeeland.jpg, Dam and Prins Hendrikdok File:Rathaus-Middelburg-2012.jpg, Former city hall File:Middelburg, zicht op de Lange Jan vanaf het station foto3 2014-02-23 13.33.jpg, View at the Lange Jan from the station File:Middelburg, straatzicht Londense Kaai foto8 2014-02-23 13.42.jpg, The ''Londense Kaai'' File:Middelburg, bij de Kuiperspoort foto8 2014-02-23 14,28.jpg, Near towngate, the Kuiperspoort File:Middelburg, molen de Hoop RM29653 foto7 2014-02-23 15.21.jpg, ''Molen de Hoop''

Culture and recreation

When William of Orange decided to found the first university in the Netherlands in 1575, he initially considered locating it in Middelburg. Ultimately he chose

Leiden Leiden (; in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. The municipality of Leiden has a population of 119,713, but the city forms one densely connected agglomeration wit ...

, however, and Middelburg—as well as all of Zeeland—remained without a university until 2004 when

University College Roosevelt University College Roosevelt (UCR), formerly known as Roosevelt Academy (RA), is a small, honors undergraduate liberal arts and science college located in Middelburg in the Netherlands and the sole university in Zeeland. It offers a residentia ...

(formerly known as

Roosevelt Academy University College Roosevelt (UCR), formerly known as Roosevelt Academy (RA), is a small, honors undergraduate liberal arts and science college located in Middelburg in the Netherlands and the sole university in Zeeland. It offers a residentia ...

), affiliated with

Utrecht University Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...

, was established. A campus of the

HZ University of Applied Sciences The HZ University of Applied Sciences (Short: HZ) is a Dutch university of applied sciences with campuses in Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandi ...

is also located in the city, although this institution has its headquarters in the nearby city of Vlissingen.

Cultural institutions

Theaters and Concert halls

Sightseeing

Sports

Middelburg has a rugby club, Oemoemenoe, and four football (soccer) clubs: MZVC, Zeelandia Middelburg, Jong Ambon and FC Dauwendaele. Jong Ambon is translated Young Ambon, and consists of mostly Ambonese players. FC Dauwendaele is the main club in Dauwendaele.

Transportation

Middelburg has a

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

with intercity train connections to

Goes Goes () is a city and municipality in the southwestern Netherlands on Zuid-Beveland, in the province of Zeeland. The city of Goes has approximately 27,000 residents. History Goes was founded in the 10th century on the edge of a creek: de Korte ...

Roosendaal Roosendaal () is both a city and a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. Towns/villages of the municipality * Roosendaal (population: 66,760) * Wouw (4,920) * Heerle (1, ...

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

Haarlem Haarlem (; predecessor of ''Harlem'' in English) is a city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland. Haarlem is situated at the northern edge of the Randstad, one of the most populated metropoli ...

, and

. Four trains leave every hour in both directions.

Twin cities

In popular culture

* In

Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 – 13 February 1950) was an Italian-born British writer of romance and adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: ''The Sea Hawk'' (1915), ''Scaramouche'' (1921), ''Captain Blood'' (a.k.a ...

's 1929 novel "The Romantic Prince", set in the late 1460s, Middelburg is the home town of Mister Danvelt and his son Philip. The Danvelt home is a beautiful, gabled house on the Lange Delft, not far from Middelburg's imposing abbey. Philip Danvelt inherits the house and lives there with his wife Johanna when he is arrested by Lord Claude de Rhynsault.p166-178 of the House of Stratus edition, ch. 4. ''The Romantic Prince'', Rafael Sabatini, 2001 *In ''The Canterbury Tales'', c.1387, the Merchant speaks of the absolute importance of keeping the sea free of pirates "between Middelburg and Orwell" (the

River Orwell The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England from Ipswich to Felixstowe. Above Ipswich, the river is known as the River Gipping, but its name changes to the Orwell at Stoke Bridge, where the river becomes tidal. It broadens into ...

in England).

References

Literature

External links

* *
Official city website
(in Dutch with a limited English section)
Tourism Middelburg
{{Authority control Cities in the Netherlands Municipalities of Zeeland Populated places in Zeeland Provincial capitals of the Netherlands Walcheren