Frommer's Review
Middelburg's sprawling 13th-century abbey in the center of town had a life of traumatic ups and downs over the centuries, as it went from Catholic to Protestant to secular usages, all the while suffering from fires and careless alterations at the hands of whoever happened to be in charge. What you see today is a replica of the original, reconstructed following World War II bombings. Soaring 87m (289 ft.) into the sky, the 14th-century Lange Jan (Long John) Tower can be seen from any point on the island, and has magnificent panoramic views from its summit.
Part of the complex is occupied by the Historama Abdij Middelburg, in which the abbey's history is revealed during a fascinating walk through the cloisters, down to the cellars and the crypt, and back again. You'll be introduced to historical figures such as the Norbertine monks and William of Orange.
Another occupant of the abbey is the Zeeuws Museum (Zeeland Museum), which houses a collection of antiquities. Highlights include a Roman altar to pagan sea-goddess Nehallenia recovered from the beach after a storm, a medieval stone coffin that was used for watering cattle, and 16th-century tapestries depicting the victory of Zeeland over the Spanish. National costumes are displayed. The museum is closed for renovations until sometime in 2007.
Finally, there's the Roosevelt Study Center, established in honor of Theodore, Franklin Delano, and Eleanor Roosevelt, whose ancestors -- the Belgian Protestant de la Noyes -- emigrated to the New World in the 1640s from the Zeeland town of Tholen. The library here holds extensive research material, including audiovisual and slide presentations. The annual Four Freedoms Medals (based on FDR's famous 1941 "four freedoms" speech) are awarded in Middelburg in even-numbered years, and in New York in odd-numbered years.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
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planning your trip.
