Middelburg is a modern town situated in the Cultural Heartland of the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa. Middelburg serves as the Agricultural, Industrial and Communications centre for the surrounding area. Initially, Middelburg was planned as an ideal halfway point between Pretoria and Lydenburg in 1859. However, nothing resulted from this idea. In 1864, The Dutch Reformed Church bought the farm of 'Sterkfontein' and in 1866 the town of Nazareth was developed on it. In 1872, Nazareth was then renamed Middelburg.
Today, Middelburg is well known as the Stainless Steel Capital of Africa. It is home to a large stainless steel plant named 'Columbus Stainless'. For travellers, Middelburg offers an abundance of exciting activities as well as unique cultural experiences. The first stop is the Botshabelo Historical Village and craft markets. This area boasts rich cultural significance and is great to explore. Another must-stop area is the Traditional Ndebele Village home to the well known Ndebele people. Of course, the ultimate way to experience all Middelburg has to offer is to enjoy game drives in the game reserves as well as hiking on the numerous splendid trails offered. Golfing enthusiasts can enjoy a relaxing round of golf at the undulating golf course in Middelburg.
Middelburg is situated just minutes away from the Loskop Dam, and home to the Middelburg Nature Reserve, Kruger Dam as well as the Middelburg Dam. The dams in the area allow for an abundance of exciting water sports such as sailing and fishing to be enjoyed. The Middelburg Nature Reserve provides shelter to numerous fascinating game species, while the abundance of marked trails offer a better glimpse of the beauty of the highveld, including large colonies of gorgeous cycads.
Hundreds of people travel to this area every year to enjoy the Middelburg Jazz Festival held in March. This event is spectacular to experience and a perfect excuse for a getaway. Middelburg has plenty to offer all history lovers as it is home to a few museums and fascinating monuments. These include the Memorial Museum, Meyer’s Bridge, Dutch Reformed Church. The English Fort and Armoury: Remnants of the Anglo-Boer War (ABW), 1899-1902, if you are interested in ABW history then the English Fort is definitely worth inspecting.
The Middelburg Observer and Frewin Printers: The town’s oldest newspaper the Middelburg Observer was first known as the Herald and came into existence in 1903. The owner and the Observer’s first editor Oscar Henry Frewin is widely considered to be the man who did the most for community newspapers in South Africa. Three generations of Frewin have since owned the paper before selling it to the Caxton Empire. Meijers Bridge: One of the three historical bridges to be found in Middelburg, this bridge is perhaps more famous than the other two thanks to the fight over the spelling of its name. The Meijers, Meyers, debate still rages on. With the bridge and street having different spellings! Certainly worth a trip for anyone interested in South African architecture and historical bridges.
Information Courtesy Of www.sahistory.org.za/place/middleburg-mpumalanga