A municipality located in the province of South Holland, the city of Delft is situated between The Hague and Rotterdam and is popularly known for its Dutch town center, Delftware, the painter Vermeer and its connection with the Dutch Royal Family. The city was established in the 13th century and chartered in 1246. On 12 October 1654, Delft suffered a huge explosion when a gunpowder store exploded, destroying most of the city. However, the city center still has some historical buildings remaining that one can visit. Canals pass through several streets offering a picturesque look with plants and fish inhabiting the waters. It is this beauty of the city that attracts tourists to Delft.
Historical monuments include the Oude Kerk or the Old Church where you will find the graves of some notable Delft inhabitants. The Nieuwe Kerk or the New Church, which became the burial ground of the Royal Dutch family after William of Orange was buried here instead of their traditional burial ground in Breda, which was under Spanish occupation then. The church was built between 1381 and 1496 and consists of the burial vault of the royal family. Other tourist interests include the Prinsenhof or Prince’s Court that has now been converted into a museum, Oostpoort or the Eastern Gate, which once formed a part of the city walls, is the only remaining gate here, the City Hall and the 1505 built Gemeenlandshuis Delfland housing the water authority.
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Photo by michiel1972 provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
Photo by michiel1972 provided courtesy of Panoramio.com
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Photo by KWO Tsoumenis provided courtesy of Panoramio.com