Abbey

The Middelburg abbey is one of the most beautiful historic places in Middelburg and a wonderful place to relax on a bench. The round building, with a picturesque square in the middle, was built in the 12th century. At that time Middelburg had a large religious center. The complex is located in the middle of the city and has four large towers, a small tower, several beautiful gates and beautiful stained glass windows.



The complex has been restored several times. Finally after the destruction caused by the forgotten bombing of Middelburg on 17 May 1940. The abbey tower, called the Lange Jan, and two churches, the Koorkerk and the Nieuwe Kerk, form part of the Abbey. A guided tour of the abbey's corridors and churches is part of the city walks.



Today, the Zeeuws Museum is located in part of the abbey. Here you can also visit a brasserie with a terrace (for which you do not need a museum ticket). Another part of the abbey is used for office space of the Province of Zeeland.

Source: uitinmiddelburg.nl/nl/bedrijven/locatie:abdij.htm

In the middle of Middelburg lies a cluster of old buildings around a large square, the almost 900-year-old abbey complex. For centuries a meeting place to serve God. Soon also the place where the Zeeland government came together. We still meet here at special and everyday moments.
The abbey buildings have had all kinds of functions, from refectory to cannon foundry, from cloister to mint and from concert hall to Statenzaal. Only the two churches, the Koorkerk and the Nieuwe Kerk, remained untouched. That is, after Prince William of Orange conquered Catholic Middelburg in 1574, Catholic worship changed to that of Protestants.
Although the provincial government has been seated there for 200 years, most people know the Abbey complex mainly for its festivals, concerts, performances and the annual picnic of the Zeeland Late Summer Festival. The sheltered Abbey Square is ideal for such meetings.
The monastery garden of the abbey complex is an oasis of peace and wonderfully cool in summer. The Zeeuws Museum was established in part of the abbey complex almost fifty years ago. Here too you encounter past and present in a surprising way.
And then there is the Lange Jan, the abbey tower that announces Middelburg as a landmark from afar. If you're looking for a view, you can climb it about halfway up, for a fee.

More information at zeeland.com/nl-nl/live-work/abdij-middelburg

One of the entrances to a very nice square in the center