Middelburg - Abbey of Our Lady Onze Lieve Vrouwe Abdij

Must-see attractions nearby: Town Hall Cow Gate Zeeland Museum Lange Jan Miniature Walcheren

When William the Silent recovered Middelburg from the Spaniards in 1574 the abbey was secularized and became the seat of the provincial administration, the Admiralty and the Mint. Even a cannon foundry was established within the precincts. Only the churches retained their original function, though now for the Reformed faith. Many parts of the complex have two names, reflecting their dual use: the White Tower became the Munttoren (Mint Tower), the Abdijplein the Muntplein, the Refectory the Statenzaal (Hall of the States). The buildings were almost completely destroyed in the 1940 bombing but were rebuilt after the war in the same style. They now house the Zeeland provincial government, the Roosevelt Study Center (20th century American history) and the Zeeland Mint.