"What can you do in three days when in... " a Delft Travel Page by gordonilla

Several colleagues and I travelled to Delft to attend a series of meetings of a group called EuroFM - which is made up of a cross section of Facilities Management professionals ranging from academics to contractors to clients. These are regular meetings and this time we were in Delft and had a full programme of things to do and see - and of course the all inportant workshop sessions which are becoming part of this type of event.

We had arrived in Delft when it was dark, so did not really see the full beauty of the city on arrival. However getting up early next morning meant I could take a few photographs and see some of the old city centre. This was in fact where the hotel we were staying was located.

The hotel, the MusuemHotel Delft was located on the bank of the oldest cannal in Delft and directly opposite the Oude Kerk (Old Church). It was well placed to be abse to walk to and from things.

During our stay in Delft, we seemed to eat and drink quite frequently. Although I have drunk more coffee in many other European cities - I have eaten quite a great deal during my Delft visit.

We dined at a rather swish restaurant next to the hotel, enjoyed Argentinian beef in another steak restaurant and then ate in an Indonesian restaurant. There are many restaurants in the city and I highly recommend that you try to seek out some of the more unusual food that may be on offer. This of course is very subjective, but do try something you have not eaten before - variety is the spice of life afterall.

I need to note that as part of the group I was with, we were fed by hosts and assoictaed organisations. It did appear however that when some of the menus we had for lunch say were a little limited. They tended to be bread and rolls, cold meats and cheese - and if there was a hot item it seemed to be a potato croquet type of hot item.

All in all, the food was excellent and fairly cheap too!

The city of Delft is over 750 years old; and it was named after the activity known as delving - that is digging theoldest canal in Delft (Oude Delft) which is shown in the photograph.

In 1246, Count William II awarded Delft it's city charter and from that point onwards Delft flourished and grew. As early as 1355, the city had grown to a size which it retained until the 19th century when new building work was undertaken.

Like many European Cities, Delft experienced a great fire. This occurred on 3 May 1536 and is not fully known how it started; but it is belived that after a lightening strike to the wooden spire of the Nieuwe Kerk sparks were blown by the wind and set alight the surrounding houses. Almost 2,300 houses were destroyed by the fire.

In addition to the fire, 1654 saw a huge explosion which reduced a part of the city to rubble. Like many cities at the time, there was a city arsenal which held gunpowder and such like for the defence of the city. This was actually located in the cellar of the former Convent of the Poor Clares. This store was in fact the main warehouse for Holland and held 80,000 pounds of gunpowder. The explosion resulted in the destruction of 200 houses, a further 300 had collapsed roofs and broken windows - there were also around 100 casualties.

The new city gunpowder depot was built in 1660, and they had some sense to build it 1 mile out of the city.

Delft also played host to a chamber of the Dutch East India Company and this organisation added another facet to Delft. This meant that Delft was a scene of trade and activity in spices, coffee, tea and Chinese porcelain. This in part resulted in potteries being created in Delft and they started to produce Delftware, which is not actually porcelain but has that tell tale white and blue look to it.

The demand for technically trained people grew, and in 1842 it lagged behind it's neighbours. They formed the Royal Academy for Civil Engineers and it moved into part of the artillery school and that orginal Academy has developed into what is now the Technical University with the current institution has some 13,000 registered students.

Looking back at the past is very easy in Delft and it has been the home to many famous citizens. Three of the most famous are:

Hugo de Groot: a legal scholar born in1583 who was sentneced to life in prison and weas locked up in the most secure prision - Loevestein castle. However, after two years of imprisonment he escaped, then lead a rather colourful life being an author and a diplomat for the Kingdom of Sweden.

Johannes Vermeer: The artist and known for his street scenes and ladies with pearl earrings.

I think it is fair to say that the city of Delft continues to be an interesting place to visit.