wherein the positioning device comprises a short stroke stage to move the object table relative to the electron optics system and a long stroke stage to move the short stroke stage relative to the electron optics system, wherein the long stroke stage comprises dual long stroke, stage actuators, the dual long stroke stage actuators being arranged, seen in a direction parallel to a main plane of movement of the positioning device, spaced apart on either side of the short stroke stage, the positioning device further comprising connecting structures connecting the short stroke stage to the respective long stroke stage actuators, the connecting structures extending in the direction parallel to the main plane of movement of the positioning device.
        27. An e-beam apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses further comprising a gravity compensator to at least partly compensate a gravity force on at least one of the object table and a part of the positioning device, the gravity compensator being a non-magnetic gravity compensator or a magnetic gravity compensator shielded by a magnetic shield.
        28. An e-beam apparatus comprising:
        an electron optics system configured to project an e-beam onto an object,
        an object table to hold the object,
        a positioning device configured to move the object table relative to the electron optics system,
        wherein the e-beam apparatus further comprises a gravity compensator to at least partly compensate a gravity force on at least one of the object table and a part of the positioning device, the gravity compensator being a non-magnetic gravity compensator or a magnetic gravity compensator shielded by a magnetic shield.