Middelburg, Zeeland
Middelburg | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
|
| |
Location in Zeeland | |
| Coordinates: 51°30′N 3°37′E / 51.500°N 3.617°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Zeeland |
| City Hall | Middelburg City Hall |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal council |
| • Mayor | Yvonne van Maastrigt |
| Area | |
• Total | 53.04 km2 (20.48 sq mi) |
| • Land | 48.42 km2 (18.70 sq mi) |
| • Water | 4.62 km2 (1.78 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) |
| Population (January 2021) | |
• Total | 48,964 |
| • Density | 1,011/km2 (2,620/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Middelburger |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 4330–4341 |
| Area code | 0118 |
| Website | www |
Middelburg (Dutch: [ˈmɪdəlbʏr(ə)x] ⓘ) is a city and municipality in the south-western Netherlands serving as the capital of the province of Zeeland. Situated on the central peninsula of the Zeeland province, Midden-Zeeland (consisting of former islands Walcheren, Noord-Beveland and Zuid-Beveland), it has a population of about 48,000.
In terms of technology, Middelburg played a role in the Scientific Revolution at the early modern period. The town was historically a center of lens crafting in the Golden Age of Dutch science and technology. The invention of the microscope and telescope is often credited to Middelburg spectacle-makers (including Zacharias Janssen and Hans Lipperhey) in the late 16th century and early 17th century.