Middelburg is the historic capital of the coastal Zeeland province in the south-west of the Netherlands. It is a pleasantly small city with a relaxed vibe and is worth a visit.
Middelburg can be reached by road or rail from Amsterdam and the 200km journey takes just over 2 1/2 hours. Zeeland is renowned for having excellent beaches and has the best climate of the country.
Arriving at the NS station, the medieval centre of Middelburg is a short walk across the swing bridge which dates from 1951.
Things To Do/See in Middelburg
Abdijtoren de Lange Jan
The Abbey Tower (nicknamed Long John) dominates the Middelburg skyline and at 90m high it is one of the tallest church towers in the Netherlands.
The tower can be climbed but note you should be reasonably fit to ascend the 207 steps – there are no lifts here! To reward your climbing efforts you get an excellent 360° panoramic view of the city through windows.
Entry to Lange Jan tower is €7.50, free for children 0-4. The tower is normally open daily 11:00-16:45 between April and November. It’s a great place to get a perspective on the city and the surroundings – although the windows make it a bit challenging to take great photos.
Abdij van Middelburg
The Abbey complex in Middelburg dates back to the 12th century and is freely open to visitors. It contains the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Koorkerk (Choir Church) and herb garden.
Close to the abbey complex, don’t miss the Reigerstraat lane with its colourful hanging umbrellas and the Huis van Bloemen (house of flowers) on the corner.
Zeeuws Museum
This museum houses a mixed collection of Zeeland heritage items, from Roman artefacts and archaeological finds to paintings and traditional costumes.
The highlight is a room with the 6 Zeeland tapestries commissioned over 500 years ago – and depicting naval battles during the Eighty Year War against Spain.
The museum is located in the Abbey Square and entry is €16.00 (children 0-18 and Museumkaart holders get free entry). Opening hours are 11:00-17:00 Tue-Sun, closed Mondays.
Markt / Stadhuis
A few minutes walk from the abbey complex is Middelburg’s large market square (Markt). There is a mixed market here every Thursday and a fruit/veg market on Saturdays.
The impressive Gothic-style Stadhuis (town hall) is one of the most striking buildings in the country. Originally built in the 15th century, it was heavily damaged by German bombing in 1940 – but was renovated to its past glory after the war.
Canal Boat Trip
You can do a rondvaart open-top boat trip around Middelburg which costs €12.50, children 3-12 €5.50. Operates April to October from Achter de Houttuinen at the western end of town near the Kloveniersdoelen recital hall.
Shopping Streets in Middelburg
Middelburg has a fair number of independent stores and boutiques as well as the usual Dutch chains. The main shopping streets are Nieuwe Berg, Lange Delft and Langeviele.
Area Around Middelburg
Middelburg makes a great base to explore the surrounding area.
Veere – This small picturesque maritime town is just 8km north of Middelburg. It is located on the shore of the Veerse Meer, a large inland lagoon.
Vlissingen – A port city located 7 minutes south of Middelburg by train. It has a beach, port and an array of museums including the Maritime MuZEEum.
Beaches – Head north-west out of Middelburg to the excellent beaches nearby at Domburg (14km away) and Westkapelle (21km) – easily reached by bus 53 or by bicycle.
Another great location for a beach holiday is across the water in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen which has many caravan/chalet parks.
Like the island of Texel, it is very popular with Dutch and Germans but is little known to other international visitors – despite its proximity to Bruges in Belgium.
This region can be reached by road tunnel or taking the train to the port of Vlissingen and then hopping on the Westerschelde passenger ferry to Breskens.
Getting There: Amsterdam to Middelburg
The train trip from Amsterdam Central to Middelburg costs €33.30 (2nd class) or €59.94 (1st class) each way – 2026 prices. There is a €1.60 surcharge for disposable tickets.
Purchase online at the official NS (Dutch Railways) site here.
The Intercity train runs up to half-hourly (direction Vlissingen, travels via Haarlem, Leiden, Den Haag HS, Delft, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Roosendaal and Bergen op Zoom). The journey time is around 2 hours 45 minutes.
If making a day return trip then consider the Holland Travel Ticket which is valid for 1 day on all public transport in the country including trains (2nd class), buses, trams and metro. It costs €79 for anytime use or €54 for use outside the 06:30-09:00 weekday rush hour or anytime at weekends.
If you are in a group then the NS Group Ticket allows 2-7 people travel to make a single journey between any 2 stations on the Dutch rail network. This costs €38.50-€56.50 and can only be purchased online here – you cannot buy it at the station.
This article was originally published in 2010. Last updated 8 September 2026.
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