Middelburg 101626 223514206 2008-07-04T11:50:57Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other :''This is about the city in the Netherlands. For other uses, see [[Middelburg (disambiguation)]].'' {{Infobox Settlement |official_name = Middelburg |image_skyline = 20040103 Middelburg Stadhuis.jpg |image_flag = flag_middelburg.gif |flag_size = 120x100px |image_shield = arms_middelburg.gif |shield_size = 120x100px |image_map = LocatieMiddelburg.png |mapsize = 280px |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = [[Netherlands]] |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = [[Zeeland]] |area_footnotes = (2006) |area_total_km2 = 53.05 |area_land_km2 = 48.64 |area_water_km2 = 4.41 |population_as_of = [[1 June]], [[2007]] |population_note = Source: [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]], [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline]. |settlement_type = Municipality |population_total = 47308 |population_density_km2 = 973 |timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]] |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] |utc_offset_DST = +2 |latd = 51 |latm = 30 |latNS = N |longd = 3 |longm = 37 |longEW = E }} '''Middelburg''' ({{Pronunciation|244 Middelburg.ogg}}) is a [[municipality]] and a [[city]] in the south-western [[Netherlands]] and the [[capital]] of the province of [[Zeeland]]. It is situated on the peninsula of [[Walcheren]]. It has a population of about 46,600. == History of Middelburg == The city of Middelburg dates back to the early 9th century or possibly the late 8th century. The first mention of Middelburg was as one of three fortified towns (i.e., ''borgs'') erected on Walcheren (then an island) to guard against [[Viking]] raids. In 844 a [[monastery]] was built on the site, which remained in use until the [[Eighty Years' War]], when the northern [[Netherlands]] won their independence from Spain. Middelburg was granted [[City rights in the Netherlands|city rights]] in 1217. During the [[Middle Ages]], it became an important trading centre in the trade between [[England]] and the cities of [[Flanders]]. Later, in the 17th century (the [[Dutch Golden Age]]), it was an important centre for the [[Dutch East India Company]]. Much of the old city center was [[bomb]]ed flat on May 17, 1940 by the German [[Luftwaffe]], to force the surrender of the Dutch armies in Zeeland. After the war, much of the centre was rebuilt as much as possible along prewar lines. The city's archives, however, were lost to the flames. After the reconstruction, modern Middelburg has re-gained much of its historic character. There are lavish 17th and 18th century merchant houses and storehouses standing along [[canal]]s, of a similar style as found in cities like [[Amsterdam]]. The old city [[moat]]s are still there, as is one of the [[city gate]]s, 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]]. The medieval abbey is used today as a museum and as the seat of the provincial government. == Education == In 1575, when [[William of Orange]] was about to found the first university in the Netherlands, he considered locating it in Middelburg but then chose [[Leiden]] instead. Middelburg, and with it the whole of Zeeland, remained without a university until recently. Since 2004, the [[Roosevelt Academy]] a college affiliated to [[Utrecht University]] has been in operation in Middelburg. == Transportation == Middelburg has a [[railway station]] with intercity train connections to [[Vlissingen]], [[Goes]], [[Roosendaal]], [[Rotterdam]], [[The Hague]], [[Leiden]], [[Schiphol International Airport]] and [[Amsterdam]], among others. == Sports == Middelburg has a fieldhockey club, MMHC, 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 ([[d side]]). {{commons|Middelburg}} == Population centres == *[[Arnemuiden]] *[[Kleverskerke]] *'''Middelburg''' *[[Nieuw- en Sint Joosland]] *[[Sint Laurens]] ==Zuid== Zuid ("South") is a neighbourhood in Middelburg. It lies adjacent to Dauwendaele. The neighbourhood consists mostly of residential building projects. The town of [[Oost-Souburg]] lies to the south, as does [[Vlissingen]]. The West part of Zuid was built in the mid-1970s, the East part was built later, mainly in the late 1980s and early 1990s. There are significant changes in [[architecture]] between the West and East parts. There are [[educational]] and [[recreational]] facilities available. There numerous Sports teams in positioned in the neighborhood, mainly [[soccer]] teams, but also a couple of [[basketball]] and [[hockey]] teams.<ref>http://www.wijkverenigingzuid.nl/ (Dutch)</ref> ==Twin cities== * {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Vilvoorde]], [[Belgium]] * {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]], [[Japan]] * {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Glogow]], [[Poland]] * {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Simeria]], [[Romania]] * {{flagicon|Romania}} [[Teiuş|Teius]], [[Romania]] ==References== {{Reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.middelburg.nl/ Official city website] (in Dutch with a limited English section) * [http://www.visitmiddelburg.nl/ Tourism Middelburg] * [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem318z.htm municipal data] (in Dutch) * [http://www.rooseveltacademy.org Website Roosevelt Academy] * [http://www.plattegronden.nl/gemeentemiddelburg/ Map] {{Province Zeeland}} {{Dutch capital cities}} [[Category:Municipalities of Zeeland]] [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Zeeland]] [[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]] [[be:Горад Мідэлбург]] [[br:Middelburg]] [[ca:Middelburg]] [[de:Middelburg]] [[es:Middelburg]] [[eo:Middelburg]] [[eu:Middelburg]] [[fr:Middelbourg]] [[id:Middelburg]] [[is:Middelburg]] [[it:Middelburg]] [[lb:Middelburg]] [[li:Middelburg]] [[hu:Middelburg]] [[nl:Middelburg (Zeeland)]] [[ja:ミデルブルフ]] [[no:Middelburg]] [[oc:Middelburg]] [[pl:Middelburg]] [[pt:Midelburgo]] [[ro:Middelburg]] [[ru:Мидделбург]] [[simple:Middelburg]] [[sr:Миделбург]] [[sv:Middelburg]] [[vo:Middelburg]] [[zea:Middelburg]] [[zh:米德尔堡]]