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The City
With over 1200 monuments, Middelburg has every right to call itself a city with a history. Walking along the stately canal houses and the back alleys that you come across in the centre of the city, you will breathe in the history of Middelburg. Those who would like to taste something of that atmosphere from behind the computer too, will find a summary of the history of Middelburg below.
Middelburg was probably founded in the ninth century as a defence against the Vikings. The original shapes of the city’s defences are still visible today in the fortified walls that surround a large part of the inner city. Over the years, the Middelste Burcht area of Walcheren developed into a trade centre. Middelburg’s favourable situation on the river Arne contributed greatly to this.
The construction of the abbey of Middelburg in the twelfth century made Middelburg the most important town in Zeeland, both from a church point of view and from a governmental point of view. In the thirteenth century the city of began to flourish. City rights were obtained and the abbey was expanded further.
The Eighty Years’ War interrupted this period of growth, but Middelburg soon scrambled to its feet. Flemish refugees brought extensive trading knowledge with them. They contributed to the prosperity of Middelburg in the seventeenth century.
A second element that helped Middelburg’s expansion was the influence of trading companies such as the East India Company. Middelburg was the second largest East India Company city, after Amsterdam. Between 1602 and 1795, 336 ships were built for the East India Company in Middelburg, and trades and crafts flourished like never before.
This success was reflected in Middelburg’s architecture. Many of the splendid stately homes of the city go back to this period that was so important to Middelburg. In spite of the devastation wreaked during WWII, you can still really take a walk through history in Middelburg, thanks to skilled restoration work.
The main monuments in Middelburg include the town hall, the Abbey, the Oostkerk, Lange Jan and the Zeeuwse Archief (Archives of Zeeland). You will also find several mills on the fortifications and at the edges of the centre.
If you would like to know more about the history or monuments of Middelburg, please contact the Tourist Shop. They can tell you everything about Middelburg and organise tours, with historical themes if desired.
Tourist Shop (city information office)
Markt 65C
+31 (0)118-674300
www.touristshop.nl
middelburg@touristshop.nl
Welcome to the English language section of the Middelburg website. Unfortunately it was not possible to translate the entire website and for this reason we offer you a selection of carefully chosen information that can be very useful for visitors to the city of Middelburg.
This part of the site contains information for tourists as well as for people visiting on business. Would you like to learn more about what Middelburg has to offer in the way of amenities, business, work, attractions, accommodation or facilities for students or residents? Hopefully, you will find all you need to know and more in this section of the site. Should you be unable to find the information you need, please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions at the following email address: info@middelburg.nl.
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