Middelburg is the city where one day, I found myself lost among the trees. I sat quietly and listened to the wind. It whispered to me like a friend. We talked for a long time—just the wind and me. I felt we became close, like old friends. But then the wind left, blowing to the north.

Later, it returned, full of stories from faraway places. It played with my hair and made me smile. But just when I called it my friend again, it disappeared once more.

I felt tired of sitting and waiting, so I left the forest and walked into the streets of the city. I watched people pass by, but they were like the wind too—here for a second, and gone the next. I walked through towns and cities, watching people and buildings. Then, something caught my eye—the canals of Middelburg. They moved slowly through the streets, both still and alive at the same time.

Middelburg is a small city in the province of Zeeland, in the southwest of the Netherlands. Long ago, in the 17th century, it was one of the richest cities in the country. It was an important center for trade during the Dutch Golden Age. Many ships from the Dutch East India Company (VOC) left from Middelburg, sailing to Asia and bringing back goods like spices and tea.

Today, Middelburg is quieter, but the canals are still there. They reflect the old houses and peaceful skies. The history of the city is still easy to see. The Lange Jan tower, one of the tallest buildings in the Netherlands, watches over the city. From the top, you can see Middelburg’s red rooftops, green trees, and many waterways.

As I walked through the streets, I enjoyed the beauty and the calm. But soon, I began to miss the forest. I missed the real smiles of friends, the warm feelings that cities and strangers couldn’t give me.

So I went back to the woods, where the wind first spoke to me. There, I felt something real—something honest and true. Because in the end, the most important thing is not always the city or the history. It’s the feeling of someone beside you. That feeling can warm your heart more than the summer sun.