Trance Form

In the 11th century the surroundings of Delft started to develop and became a prosperous agricultural area. At first on a small scale because the low land was regularly submerged by the sea. After the construction of the Maasdijk (dike along the river Maas) in the 13th century the agricultural activities increased. Because of this small settlements like Delft, Vlaardingen and Schiedam develloped into prosperous trade towns.

The name Delft comes from the first canal, the Delf, probably dug around the year 1100. Halfway the 13th century the Count of Holland, Willem II, granted Delft its town rights, with which it got an important position in the Staten van Holland, the medieval gouverning board. Later the Delfshavense Schie, a canal, was dug to give Delft a connection with the river Maas and their own sea port, the current Rotterdam district Delfshaven. This was a considerable extension of shipping possibilities and as a result Delft developped itself more and more into an important trade centre.

In the 16th century Delft joined the revolt of the Dutch towns against the Spanish rulers. Prince Willem of Oranje took its residence in the Prinsenhof, where he was assassinated in order of the king of Spain. In the 17th centurys the Dutch towns had their Golden Age, a relatively peaceful period in which the trade florished. Also in Delft, one of the six establishments of the East-Indian-Indian company (VOC), later followed by the West-Indian-Indian company. In this period a product was invented that would make Delft world-famous: Delft pottery. Around the year 1800, during the French occupation, a period of economic decline began. Another activity became important for Delft: science. Later on, in the 20th century, industrialisation also brought along better times.