That the recent historical action movie about Michiel de Ruyter for most parts was filmed in Middelburg, nobody will be surprised. At least no one who has ever set foot in this monumental VOC city (Dutch East India Company) located at the head of the former island of Walcheren. Anyone who strolls from the medieval Kuiperspoort through the Spanjaardstraat, or walks along the quays, can imagine himself to be on a film set of a historical blockbuster. At one time Middelburg was the largest commercial city in what was then the northern Netherlands and the East India sailors stored their valuable goods in the warehouses of the inner port.

In Middelburg, the history lays on the road. The city has more than 1.100 monuments, and there were many more, but a part of the city center was bombed, just like Rotterdam, during the Second World War. Fortunately almost everything was restored after the war to its original state, from which Middelburg benefits nowadays. Many tourists are attracted by the historical grandeur and exquisite restaurants, the great variety of shops and the friendly atmosphere. But also by the nearby beaches and the neighboring towns, such as Domburg and Veere. To arrive in Middelburg, one does have to travel a bit, but you sure get something in return!

Gap in the market

Precisely because of this distance (about two hours drive from Utrecht) and because of the special offer, one soon decides to stay. This proved until recently not always easy. "Due to the small number of accommodation facilities, the city was always filled up quickly," says Martin van de Louw, owner of boutique hotel The Roosevelt. This also applied to Van der Louws own B&B 'Guesthouse 1560 ", which was housed in a 450 year old building at Kinderdijk. Martin and his wife Raymonde saw a gap in the market. The city had a clear need for a high-end hotel, centrally located and yet within easy reach. But where should one start? The opportunity arose when the former polder house, with view to the Nieuwe Kerk, was free. "It was the seat of the Dike Board, guarding the dikes of Walcheren and raising taxes from the peasants," says Martin. "The cellars were built during the war after the bombing on May 17, 1940. In 1947, the reconstruction was completed. The building was the statement of a sort of Zeeland’s intransigence, which can be identified by the robust and massive appearance. It was to be built for centuries. "

From Safe to Bathroom

The Polder House is located at the "Castle", the upper part, which gave the town its name. After years of vacancy, Raymonde Martin saw here their chance. Thanks to their lobbying, the building was given a new use as a four-star boutique hotel with 28 rooms, a trendy bar and a garden terrace. Thanks to an ingenious renovation, not much needed to be demolished and rebuilt. Safes were transformed into kitchens and bathrooms into bedrooms. The messengers house was divided into two suites, each with its own private terrace. Although the rooms are different, the decor (modern design with striking colors) and comfort are the same everywhere. All flat screen TVs are equipped with "mirroring" to easily enable you to view your own photos and videos from your phone or iPad on the screen. Martin: "We say to our guests: Bring your own content with you, so you do not need, after a long day in the city, to depend on the TV program."

Franklin D. Roosevelt

On March 11, 2015 after only a half years renovation, the hotel The Roosevelt opened its doors. The name refers to the connection between Zeeland and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the former president of the United States. Not only that the president had Zeeland ancestors, but there are also awarded every two years in the church opposite the hotel the "Four Freedom Awards" in the presence of the royal family and the descendants of the Roosevelts. The winners recall Roosevelt's famous "State of the Union" message in 1941 in which he held that every citizen of the world has the right to four human rights: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, protection against poverty and protecting against fear. Like the rest of Middelburg - despite its post-war buildings - the hotel is reminiscent of much earlier times. The high windows and ceilings, thick walls, heavy doors and wooden beams give the building a classic look. The stone spiral staircase to the tower even seems to come directly from a medieval castle. At the highest point all the monuments of Middelburg can be seen at a glance: from the abbey on the other side of the church up to the town hall on the market, which was built in late Gothic style. The sea and the rest of Walcheren can also be seen in clear weather.

City and Beach

Since its opening, the hotel was already fully booked a few times. The Roosevelt receives guests who are especially interested in the cultural and culinary treasures of Zeeland. "This region attracts two kinds of tourists," said Raymonde. "First, there are the people who come solely because of the beaches and also staying near the coast. And then there is another group that comes for the city. They are interested in the history, enjoy the good food and like to go shopping here. We suspect that you belong to one of this group. You will experience a weekend out of your daily life, in a world that is unknown also to most Dutch people. In addition, the beach is never far away and you are not here in a traffic jam as with many beaches on the coast of North and South Holland. Even after the opening of the Western Schelde tunnel, many Flemish people prefer the quiet coast of Zeeland to their own crowded beaches. And do you also know that it is often nicer weather here than in the rest of the country? We have by far the most hours of sunshine."

Tips from The Roosevelt

Stroll on foot during the event "Art and Culture Route" on each first Sunday of the month, from studio to studio, from gallery to gallery and from the museum to the art house. The host participants are characterized by a banner with the logo of the route. www.kunstroutemiddelburg.nl

Middelburg has a number of excellent restaurants that cook in our estimation at star level, but still do not charge four-star prices. Highly recommended are "De Gouden Bock", "De Gespleten Arent", "Scherp" and "De Eetkamer".

Walcheren has 38 kilometers of sandy beach and you never lie virtually "like sardines" side by side. The beach in Dishoek is a nice walking area on the edge of a special dune landscape (www.dishoek.com).

Lunch on the beach? Beach pavilion 90 serves in Domburg delicious dishes in a trendy environment (www.strand90.nl)

The Zeeland Museum is part of the abbey complex behind the Nieuwe Kerk and (rightly) nominated for the National Museum Prize 2015. The museum preserves more than 30.000 art treasures that together give a picture of the Zeeland’s past. www.zeeuwsmuseum.nl

Get to know Middelburg from the water and sail away with a cruise through the canals. You sail in open boats along the old warehouses and monumental buildings that recall the rich VOC past of the city. www.rondvaartmiddelburg.nl