Middelburg

Middelburg, capital of the Dutch province of Zeeland, in the island of Walcheren, and $4\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ miles by rail NE. of Flushing. In former times it was one of the leading mercantile cities of the United Provinces, sending many ships to the East and West Indies, and the Levant (Thomas Cromwell was one of its merchants); but its commercial importance has greatly declined, except for an active inland trade in corn, potatoes, and madder. Cotton-factories represent its only industry of note. The town-house, founded by Charles the Bold in 1468, is adorned with twenty-five statues of counts and countesses of Holland and Zeeland. A once celebrated abbey (founded in the 12th century) is now used as administrative offices. The museum of the Academy of Sciences contains one of the earliest telescopes made by Lippershey, a native of the town, who, there are good grounds for believing, was the original inventor of the instrument. The new church has marble monuments to the sea-heroes, J. and C. Evertsen, who were killed fighting against the English in 1666. Pop. (1888) 16,455.