Delft

In the 11th century, the Oude Delf was dug as a drainage canal for the Dutch peat area, a crucial step in the reclamation of the land. The name Delf comes from “delven” or “digging”, which perfectly reflects the origin of the city. Along the Oude Delf, a settlement arose in the 12th century, which received city rights in 1246. This marked the beginning of the growth of Delf – and later Delft – as an urban centre.

In the centuries that followed, the canals were expanded further. The Nieuwe Delf was dug in the 12th century, about 100 metres to the east, to give the city more waterways. In the 13th century, a defensive canal (the outer canal) was constructed, which later merged with the Oude Delf and became the Delftse Schie. These canals were of great importance to trade and industry. They supported the growth of the cloth industry, where wool was brought in via the canals and the cloth was dyed and finished. The beer industry also depended on the clean canal water, although this quickly became polluted due to cloth production.

In the north and south of the Delfts you’ll find lock chambers, used to let ships pass through the city so they could be raised or lowered by means of a kind of lock or hoisting device. This was crucial for the transport of goods. The Zuidkolk was a grateful subject for Vermeer’s “View of Delft”.

In the 17th century, the city’s wooden bridges were replaced by stone ones, which improved traffic flow and helped modernise the city. A fun fact about the Oude Delf: near the Nieuwe Kerk there’s a hatch in the canal that once led to a secret passage to the Prinsenhof, the residence of William of Orange, where he was assassinated in 1584.

Other canals in Delft are closely linked to the city’s history too. How many of these canals and places can you tick off today?

- Zuidergracht
- Westsingelgracht
- Koornmarkt
- Wijnhaven
- Buitenwatersloot
- Zuideinde
- Oostsingel