After the year 1500 a coat of arms appears with a double-headed eagle, this version probably originates from Emperor Maximiliaan I.

Since 31 juli 1817 the description is as follows:Dutch:De Rijksadelaar, houdende op deszelfs borst een schild van keel, beladen met een dubbelde tooren van goud.English:The Reichsadler, holding on its breast a shield of gules, loaded with a doubled tower of gold.This insignia has since 31 July 1817, despite various municipal mergers, remained unchanged.

Middelburg is one of the ten Dutch municipalities that carry the Rudolfinic imperial crown.

The crown was, since 1515, allowed to be carried on a banner, but not on the city's coat of arms.

The other eight: Amsterdam, Bolsward, Deventer, Hulst, Kampen, Nijmegen, Tiel and Zwolle are red.