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Middelburg
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:''This is about the city in the Netherlands. For other uses, see
Middelburg (disambiguation).''
{{Infobox Dutch municipality 3 |
name=Middelburg | province=
Zeeland | map=LocatieMiddelburg.png |
area=53.04 | land=48.64 | water=4.40 |
population=46,554 | population_year=(2005) | density=957 |
dn=51 | mn=30 | de=3 | me=37}}
Image:Ltspkr.png'''
Media:Nl-Middelburg.ogg Middelburg''' is a
municipality and a
city in the south-western
Netherlands and the
capital of
Zeeland province situated on the peninsula of
Walcheren.
Population centers
*
Arnemuiden
*
Kleverskerke
*'''Middelburg'''
*
Nieuw- en Sint Joosland
*
Sint Laurens
The city of Middelburg
The city of Middelburg (population: about 46.588 ) dates back to the early
9th century or possibly the late 8th century. The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three
borg (disambiguation) defensive points (the
burg 'in the middle') 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 the Netherlands city rights in
1217.
The city became an important trading centre. During the middle ages, it played an important role in the trade between
England and the cities of
Flanders. Later, in the
17th century (the
Dutch Golden Age), it became an important trading city for the
Dutch East India Company. The houses in parts of the center are the same kind of lavish
mansions of rich merchants that can be found in cities like
Amsterdam. There are also many storehouses dating back to the 17th century along the
canals. The old city
moats 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 a Canal which crosses
Walcheren from
Vlissingen to
Veere.
Much of the old city centre was
bombed flat on May 17, 1940 by the German
Luftwaffe, to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. After the war, the centre was rebuilt as much as possible along prewar lines. The city's archives, however, were lost to the flames.
In 2004 the prestigious
Roosevelt Academy opened its doors in Middelburg. This international oriented liberal arts and sciences college is an honors college of
Utrecht University.
Middelburg has a
railway station with connections to
Vlissingen and
Roosendaal.
{{commons|Middelburg}}
External links
-
Official city website (in Dutch with a limited English section)
-
municipal data (in Dutch)
-
Map
{{Province Zeeland}}
Category:Zeeland
Category:Cities in the Netherlands
ca:Middelburg
de:Middelburg
eo:Middelburg
fr:Middelbourg
id:Middelburg
is:Middelburg
it:Middelburg
li:Middelburg
nl:Middelburg (Zeeland)
no:Middelburg
pl:Middelburg
ro:Middelburg
ru:Мидделбург
sv:Middelburg
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