The history of Delft is richly filled with buildings, explosions, princes and painters.
The name Delft is coming from delven = digging. The digging is about the canals in Delft.
The city started in the eleventh century and get its city rights in 1246. It was central located, so a lot of trades took place in the central market. You can see this by its size. In 1389 the Schie was digged towards the river the Maas and ended in Delfshaven (now part of Rottterdam)
In 1560 Delft was in comparison with Amsterdam just behind in population and was one the largest cities with 14000 people. In 1572 Willem van Oranje came to live here. His nickname is Willem the Silent, because of his capabilities of reason.
This coming period was important for the Netherlands as this was called later their golden century.
In Delft the factory about Delft Blue flourished, the VOC was present in Delft, several Gilden were active, Johannes Vermeer lived in this period as well as all of the Dutch famous admirals from the navy, such as Piet Heyn, Maarten Tromp en Michiel de Ruyter. All fighting Spain in the eighty years war and later the English.
In 1672 the golden century came to an end for Delft. The industry which consist mainly from 30 factories in Delft Blue were diminished in a few years to only 10 factories. The grows of Delft started again with the train in 1847.
Several new industries came to Delft, such as DSM. In 1842 the TU Delft was founded ( under a different name). And in 1932 the TNO came to Delft.
| several important dates in Delft | ||
|---|---|---|
| date | happening | remarks |
| 1246 | building of the Old Church, tower started to tilt as soon it was build |
There are several famous people buried here: Piet Hein, Maarten Tromp; both admirals in the navy, Johannes Vermeer famous painter and Anthony van Leeuwenhoek scientist who invented the microscope |
| 1396 till 1496 | building of the tower of the New Church | |
| 1536 | the big city fire | much of the city archive went lost, but also part of the old church were damaged |
| 1566 til 1572 | In the Old Church most of the statue were destroyed |
statue storm in all catholic churches. This incident was indirect the cause of starting the 80 years war |
| 27 July 1572 | Delft surrenders to the Geuzen | Geuzen are Dutch Noble man who fought against the Spanish King Filips II, this 80 year war was 1568-1648 |
| 14 November 1572 | Willem van Oranje will start living in the Sint Agatha monastery |
Nick name Willem the Silent because he could debate very good. He is the start of our Dutch Royal family |
| 1574 | the States of Holland decides to flood the area of Rijnland, Delftland and Schieland completely |
|
| 1577 | Piet Heyn was born | famous Dutch sailor because he defeated as commander the Spanish Silver Fleet in 1628. One year later he dies and was buried in the Old church in Delft |
| 1583 | Hugo de Groot, who was born in Delft was sent to jail by prins Maurits van Oranje, son of Willem van Oranje in 1618, escapes in a book case from the Slot Loevestein in 1621 |
his statue is on the main market of Delft because of his works and influences as legal expert and theologian |
| 10 July 1584 | Willem van Oranje is murdered by Balthasar Gerards |
bullets holes of this happening still to be found in the Prinsenhof |
| 1594 | Failed attack of the Spaniards on Delft | |
| 1602 till 1672 | Golden age in the Netherlands | VOC was started in 1602 which helped the international trade, in this period the art flourished and the military power at sea was strong with the great names as Piet Heyn, Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp and Michiel de Ruyter |
| 1618 | big fire of the city hall | |
| 1632 | Johannes Vermeer was born | famous Dutch painter |
| 1653 | Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp is buried in the old church of Delft |
Famous Dutch sailor. Fought in the 80 years war with Spain .This war ends in 1648, where after he fought in the English Dutch war |
| 1654 | Delft Kruithuis, (powder for guns store house) |
called ‘Delftse Thunderclap’ which caused a lot of victims |
| 1672 | Delft is captured by armed men | economic grow is over the top and the golden age is ending |
| 1847 | train station in Delft opened | |