In order for the object table 520 to be connected to the positioning device 510, the object table 520 is mounted to the positioning device 510 by means of connecting structures 521 extending through through holes 541 in the magnetic shield 540. In the example described above where the magnetic shield 540 is connected to the movable part of the long stroke stage 511, the connecting structures 521 may extend between the object table 520 and the short stroke stage 512. The movable magnetic shield may be arranged between the long stroke stage 511 and short stroke stage 512 on the one hand and the object table 520 and the electron optics system 500 on the other hand, thus shielding the propagation path of the e-beam from stray fields of the long stroke actuators 513 and short stroke actuators. Thus, a part of the short stroke stage 512 that is moved by the short stroke stage actuator as well as the object table 520 may be arranged at a side of the electron optics system 500