Middelburg (Netherlands Zeeland)

Middelburg is a river canal port town, municipality and the capital city of the Netherlands's Zeeland province, with total area approx 53 km2 (21 mi2) and population around 50,000. The town received city rights in 1217. The nearest cruise port is Vlissingen - located approx 7 km (4 mi) to the south. Zeeland province also includes the three former islands Noord-Beveland, Zuid-Beveland, and Walcheren.

Middelburg is railway connected to Amsterdam, Almere, Goes, Hague, Leiden, Roosendaal, Vlissingen, Rotterdam, with trains leaving every hour. The nearest international airport (Schiphol) is in Amsterdam.

During WW2 (1939-45), in May 1940, about 1/3 of the old town was destroyed by fires and bombs. After the war, the destroyed part was rebuilt, but the city's archives had been incinerated. The current-day city is best-known for its 17th-18th-century storehouses (similar to those in Amsterdam), city moats with 2 gates (Koepoort and Varkenspoort), medieval Middelburg Abbey (11th-century Premonstratensian monastery / now museum and seat of province's government), museums, theaters, concert halls.