From the start of the Eighty Years’ War, Middelburg was destroyed on several occasions and the surroundings of the town came under the influence of the sea. When the States defeated neighbouring Aardenburg in 1604, the Spaniards immediately started to strengthen Middelburg. Instead of stone walls and wooden gates, canon-resistant earthen embankments and small bastions were constructed. The castle was lowered and reinforced. Later big bastions were added to the corners of the fortification embankment. Today the shape of the bastioned town is still clearly recognisable. The position of the two bastions on the border can be recognised by the plot shapes. With regard to the eastern bastion, even the contours are easily visible, thanks to a recent reprofiling.
