Fun Facts: Delft Edition

After my second visit to Delft this past August, I wanted to know more about the city. Here are some interesting bits that I found out:

Origins:  Delft began as a small village in the middle ages, and received its charter from the royal family in the 13th century. At this point the city expanded enormously as many neighborhoods were added; in fact, by the end of 1355 the city reached the same size it would retain until the 1800s. In 1847 Delft became connected to Holland's new railway system; the city expanded again considerably after that.

Van der Poel's depiction of Delft after the explosion.

Delft Resilience: The little city has endured its share of disasters. First there was the Great Fire: most likely caused by a lightning strike to the steeple of Niewe Kerk, Delft went up in flames on May 3, 1536; more than 2,300 buildings burned to the ground.  Just over 100 years later, on October 12 1654, a massive explosion at a gunpowder store rocked Delft to its foundations, killing more than 100 people in the close vinicity. Thousands more were wounded, and nearly 200 buildings and homes were lost. Several of painter Egbert van der Poel's works show the devastation of the town. A replacement of the factory was built nearly a mile out of town to avoid a repeat of this disaster.

East India Company: The Dutch East India Company, begun over 400 years ago, made Delft one of its six home ports in the Netherlands. Along with the spices, ceramics and tea the hundreds of ships brought to the city, prosperity came as well.

A traditional Delftware dish.

Delftware: Delft is famous as the home of the famous blue and white Delftware tiles that have been sold around the world since the EIC brought ceramic arts to Delft. We saw plenty of this in shops all over the town center; during my visit in 2008, I bought a tile reproduction of Vermeer's "The Milkmaid," which still resides on my bureau to this day. Most of the Delftware available in gift shops runs cheaper because it is less quality, but it can be pricey! Delftware can be found in the form of tiles, dishes, and more; in Amsterdam, we saw a Defltware violin!

Painters: Many of the Old Dutch Master are tied to Delft, not just Vermeer; among many who never became famous, Delft's beloved painters include Pieter de Hoogh, Egbert van der Poel, and Jan Steen. The Dutch school was known for depictions of average people and everyday life, as well as quiet town scenes and still lifes. None of Vermeer's work makes its home in Deft, but Delft's Vermeer Center offers visitors in-depth looks at the artists' life and techniques. I had wanted to go during this visit, but it was too beautiful a day to be inside, and I decided to skip it in favor of enjoying the sunny streets.

Science and Engineering: Anton Van Leewenhoek, inventor of the microscope and a friend of Vermeer, lived and worked in Delft in the 16- and 1700s. in 1842 the Polytechnic School, now Delft University of Technology, was established.

William I of Orange

Ties to Royalty: William I, Prince of Orange (also known as William the Silent) led the revolt against the Spanish rulers of the Dutch territories in the 1600s, sparking the Eighty Years' War that eventually resulted in the independence of the United Provinces from the Spanish in 1646. After unofficially taking over as ruler of the territories, William was declared an outlaw by the Spanish king, and was assassinated in Delft by a foreigner in 1584. (Trust me, that's a very abridged version of the story). His original tomb in Niewe Kerk was modest, but eventually replaced by a grateful community. These days, royalty still comes to Delft: the mighty bells of Oude Kerk are rung for state occasions, such as marriages and burials in the royal family. Niewe Kerk contains the royal family's tomb, with William's splendid effigy on top to guard his descendants.

Delft today: Delft today is a young town, with nearly 15,000 students enrolled at Delft University of Technology today. The city is home to many scientifically-minded companies, including Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Stichting GeoDelft, Nederlands Normalisatie-Instituut, and UNESCO-IHE Institute for water education. The charming town center is all that most tourists see, but the city sprawls away from the center to house its nearly 100,000 inhabitants. There is also room for plenty of hotels and restaurants, making Delft a great place to spend a night or the whole weekend.

Want to visit Delft? If you do, you'll be one of over 1 million registered visitors per year!

Sources: Delft.nl, Wikipedia.