Jakob Middendorp (Latin Jacobus Middendorpius) (c. 1537, Twente – 13 January 1611, Cologne) was a Dutch Catholic theologian and churchman, academic and historian.
Middendorp was born about 1537 in Oldenzaal, or perhaps Ootmarsum, as he called himself Otmersensis on the title page of his work De celebrioribus Academiis.
He remained in Westphalia during the troubles in the Archdiocese of Cologne in the time of Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg, and was professor at various foreign academies; afterwards he returned to Cologne, where he passed the greater part of his life.
As an author he was best known by his De celebrioribus universi orbis Academiis, libri II,[1] a pioneer work in the history of education and universities.
It gave legendary foundations for European higher education, and its history was contaminated by the forgeries of Annius of Viterbo, factors leading to its being discounted by later authors.