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Delft

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Delft is a historic city in the Netherlands.

Delft centre
Delft centre

It sits in the province of South Holland. The city is located between Rotterdam and The Hague. It is part of a large area called the Randstad.

Antique map of Delft, Netherlands by Blaeu J. 1649
Antique map of Delft, Netherlands by Blaeu J. 1649

You can see many canals and old buildings here. Many people visit the city to see its famous sights.

Delft - Visbrug
Delft - Visbrug

The city is known for its many beautiful bridges.

Delft has a very long and interesting history. The city began near a canal called the 'Delf'. This name comes from the word 'delven', which means to dig.

Delft Central Market Square
Delft Central Market Square

A Count built a manor here around the year 1075. In 1246, the city received its official charter.

Cornelis Springer, The Gemeenlandshuis and the Old Church, Delft, Summer (1877)
Cornelis Springer, The Gemeenlandshuis and the Old Church, Delft, Summer (1877)

By the year 1400, the city had 6,500 people living in it. It was once the third largest city in Holland. The city grew as trade and industry flourished.

Many famous people have lived and worked in Delft. The painter Johannes Vermeer was born here.

Cropped version of Jan Vermeer van Delft 002
Cropped version of Jan Vermeer van Delft 002

He painted many scenes of the city and its homes.

View of Delft, by Johannes Vermeer
View of Delft, by Johannes Vermeer

Scientists also made great discoveries in the city. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a pioneer in microbiology.

Martinus Beijerinck also did important research at the university. These people helped change how we see the world.

A huge event changed the city in 1654. This event is called the Delft Explosion.

Gem-Delft-OpenTopo1654Explosion
Gem-Delft-OpenTopo1654Explosion

A store full of gunpowder blew up in the center. The blast destroyed many buildings and left a deep crater.

It is thought a spark might have caused it. The explosion was so loud it could be heard far away. After this, a new gunpowder store was built outside the city.

Kruithuis
Kruithuis

Today, Delft is a place of art and science. It is very famous for Delftware pottery.

Delft plate faience Famille Rose 1760 1780
Delft plate faience Famille Rose 1760 1780

This is a special style of blue and white ceramics. The city is also home to the Delft University of Technology.

TU Delft buildings
TU Delft buildings

You can visit the Old Church or the New Church.

Nieuwe-Kerk-vanuit-het-westen
Nieuwe-Kerk-vanuit-het-westen

The New Church even holds the burial vault for the Dutch royal family. There is so much to discover in this special city.

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🖼️ Images & Media (37)
File:Gem-Delft-OpenTopo1654Explosion.png
Gem-Delft-OpenTopo1654Explosion.png
File:Cornelis Springer, The Gemeenlandshuis and the Old Church, Delft, Summer (1877).jpg
Cornelis Springer, The Gemeenlandshuis...
File:Antique map of Delft, Netherlands by Blaeu J. 1649.jpg
Antique map of Delft, Netherlands by...
File:Delftsedonderslag.jpg
Delftsedonderslag.jpg
File:Kruithuis.jpg
Kruithuis.jpg
File:View of Delft, by Johannes Vermeer.jpg
View of Delft, by Johannes Vermeer.jpg
File:Pieter Wouwerman - Gezicht op de Paardenmarkt te Delft.jpg
Pieter Wouwerman - Gezicht op de...
File:Delft plate faience Famille Rose 1760 1780.jpg
Delft plate faience Famille Rose 1760 1780.jpg
File:Demolition Bacinol 2009.JPG
Demolition Bacinol 2009.JPG
File:TU Delft buildings.jpg
TU Delft buildings.jpg
File:Delft Plantagegeer.JPG
Delft Plantagegeer.JPG
File:Zelfportret van de schilder met zijn gezin Rijksmuseum SK-A-1460.jpg
Zelfportret van de schilder met zijn...

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