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delftGO delft sights Places of interest in Delft.
The centre of Delft contains over 600 historic monuments. Most of them date from the 16th and 17th century , and a few are even older.
Next to the Oude Delft , the first dug canal which gave the town its name, are a large number of historical buildings:
The Sint Barbaraklooster, Oude Delft 55-57, was founded in the 14th century and for ages it has served as an orphanage. Nowadays it is an students' union. The Sint Hippolytuskapel (chapel) at number 118 dates from around 1400 and has been built as a chapel for the Heilige Geestzusterhuis.
The Gemeenlandshuis of Delfland, Oude Delft 167, was built at the beginning of the 16th century in the style of the Brabantine Gothic: excessively decorated with sculptures and weapon shields. Originally it was a mansion and since the 17th century the District Watercontrol Board of Delfland resides in it. In the Wapen of Savoyen with the 16th century Renaissance facade, Oude Delft 169, the municipal archives are established.
The Waalse kerk (Walloon church) on number 181 is the 15th century chapel of the Convent of Saint Agatha. After prince Willem II of Oranje died, the chapel is in use as French or Walloon church.
The Oost-Indisch Huis (East-Indian house), Oude Delft 39, was made in the 17th century by a reconstruction of some older buildings. It was the office of the VOC (united East-Indian company). At the end of the 20th century the complex has been reconstructed, it now contains the VOC-hall and a number of houses.
The town inn De Mol, Molslaan 104, dates from the end of the 15th century and is one of the oldest buildings in Delft.
The Armentarium , Korte Geer 1, has been restored and now is an army museum with an overview of the military history of the Netherlands. Exhibited are a.o. uniforms, vehicles, weapons, paintings and drawings. The facade has a large 17th century relief with the image of the god Mars.
The Nieuwe Kerk (new church) at De Markt is a Gothic basilica, built in the 14th century. Under the 17th century sepulchre of Willem of Oranje is the family tomb of his offspring, the Dutch royal family. Also Hugo de Groot is buried in this church. The spire, built in the 19th century, is over 100 meters high and contains a 17th century carillon. The church is open for public.
At De Markt (the market) are more historical buildings such as the Town hall at number 87. The Town hall was built in the Middle Ages on the site of a prison and has been rebuilt in Renaissance style after a fire. The 13th century Gothic prison tower has been saved and still remains.
The Waag, at number 11, dates initially from the 16th century. In the 18th century the current building has been constructed by putting together some smaller buildings and renewing the walls. The Guilds of gold- and silverworker als well as the Apothecary guild were housed in it.
The Prinsenhof (prince court) , Sint Agathaplein 4, was initially the convent of Saint Agatha. It has been built in 15th century in the late Gothic style of that time, but a century later were added some more parts. It is famous because Prince Willem of Oranje lived and was assassinated here. In the stairwell you can still see the black bullet holes of this medieval murder because the Prinsenhof now is used as the city?s museum. The collection contains among others paintings of Delft masters from the 16th and 17th century, Delft earthenware, silver and contemporary art.
At the Sint Agathaplein, at number 4, is the museum Nusantara. This is a collection of ethnographic objects which were used in the colonial era to instruct civil servants who were sent to the East.
The Oude Kerk (old church) , Heilige Geestkerkhof, was founded around 1200 and has been extended in the following centuries to a large church in several Gothic styles. In the church are buried a couple of hundred people, as usual in the Middle Ages. Among them are a number of famous Dutchmen such as the pirates Piet Hein and Tromp, the scientist Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek and the painter Johannes Vermeer. The 14th century tower is 75 m. high and is leaning: aproximately 2 m. off balance. In the spire hangs an enormous 16th century bell, so heavy that it is only being ringed at very special occasions.
Molen de Roos (mill the rose) , Phoenixstraat 111-112, is from the beginning 18th century and then was situated on the town rampart.
The Oostpoort (Eastern Gate) , Oosteinde/Zuiderstraat, has been constructed around 1400 and nowadays is the only remaining city gate. The towers are younger for they were raised in the 16th century. The Oostpoort contains both a land gate and a water gate, linked by pieces of town wall. Now the Gate is in use as a house and an art gallery.
Delftware factories:
Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, Rotterdamseweg 196, Delft tel. 0031(15)2512030.
The Delftse Pauw, Delftweg 133, Delft, tel. 0031(15)2124920.
The Candelaer, Kerkstraat 14, tel. 0031(15)2131848.
Museums belonging to the technical university:
Techniek museum Delft, Ezelsveldlaan 61. Permanent exhibitions of steam machines, computers and historical measuring- and weighing instruments.
The Botanische tuin (botanic garden) of the TU, Julianalaan 67, contains plants used by science, such as cocoa, sugar cane, bamboo, coconut and citrus fruit. The Mineralogisch-Geologisch Museum (mineralogical-geological museum) of the department technical nature sciences, Mijnbouwstraat 120. The museum contains a collection of fossils, stones, ores, minerals, meteorites and corals. Geological processes as volcanic activity and the forming of mountains are explained and visualised. It also has the fossile skull of Triceratops, a dinosaur specie, and the skeleton of a Dodo.
Town walks:
There is a number of town walks with different themes as "De VOC in Delft" (the united East-Indian Company in Delft) and "Bekende Delftse Schilders, Schrijvers en Wetenschappers" (famous painters, writers and scientists). There are more opportunities for nice walks in the recreation areas Delftse Hout and Hertenkamp.
There is a VOC bicycle route through Delft, Delfshaven and Schiedam and there are skate- and canoe routes in the surroundings of Delft. These routes are available at the Tourists information office of the municipality, Hippolytusbuurt 4, Delft, tel. 0031 0900 - 5151555. You can also see Delft by boat: Rondvaart Delft, Koornmarkt 113, tel. 0031(0)15-2126385. Open from mid-March to October from 09.30 to 18.00h. For those who doesnt like water a trip with the horse tram can be an alternative. The tram leaves from De Markt, near the Town hall, for information: tel. 0031(0)15 2561828.
Nature - and recreation areas:
Recreation area Delftse Hout lies on the East side of Delft, Korftlaan. There is a large pool with exellent possibilities for surfing, rowing and swimming. The border of the pool is an artificial beach, a part of it nudist beach. In the area around the pool you can go for a walk, ride a bike and skate. The area contains a.o. a children's farm, a deer park and a water play ground. For a longer stay there is a camping site: Recreatiegebied Delftse Hout, Korftlaan 5-6, tel. 0031(0)15-2130040. Recreation centre Delftse Hout is the starting point of the bicycle excursions ?Bonte Pietenpad? (2.5 hours), a must for bird lovers, and ?De Waterdrager? (36 or 43 km). The routes are available at the Tourists information office of the municipality Delft, Hippolytusbuurt 4, Delft, tel. 0031 0900-5151555.
Next to the Delftse Hout, at the other side of the Tweemolentjesvaart is the area Hertenkamp (Middelweg). This is a small, but particular nature reserve with toads, old trees, birds of prey and other birds. In autumn you can spot a considerable collection of several types of mushrooms.
The Krekengebied lies in the Delfgauwse Noordpolder and is part of the area Bieslandse Bos. It is a nature reserve for plants and birds, accessible by foot. The Krekenwandeling (creek walk) starts next to camping site Uylenburg, Noordeindseweg 70, Delfgauw. This route is also available at at Tourists information office of the municipality Delft, Hippolytusbuurt 4, Delft, tel. 0031 0900 - 5151555.
At the other side of Delft there are even more recreation possibilities: Midden Delfland is a large green area between Delft, Rotterdam and the Westland. This polder area with narrow country roads, kilometres long (new) bicycle paths and broad views over the flat landscape offers splendid opportunities for cycling, walking, skating and sailing. A good overview of the complete area offers the ANWB Delflandroute, a bicycle excursion of approximately 25 kilometres. Exept for the polder landscape you will visit Delft and the villages Den Hoorn, Abstwoude, Schipluiden and ?t Woud, a pittoresque little village that hardly has been changed since the midlle ages.
Het Recreatieschap Midden Delfland has published folders with several walking-, bicycle -, skating and canoe routes. Recreatieschap Midden Delfland, Zuidbuurt 85, Vlaardingen, tel. 0031(0)10-4600236.
Canoes can be hired at Allround Sportcenter, Rijksstraatweg 3c, Schipluiden, tel. 0031(0)15-2578924.
At Uitspanning Vlietzicht, a cafe, you can rent canoes, rowing boats and water bicycles. The cafe has an overwhealming menu with among others some barbecue plates. Vlietzicht, Vlaardingsekade 60-61, Schipluiden, tel. 0031(0)15-3808886.
Other attractions:
Reptielenzoo Serpo (reptile zoo) has more than hundred terrariums with (poisonous) snakes, lizards, crocodiles, tortoises, spiders and other animals. Text boards and a video presentation give explanation about the animals. Stationsplein 8, tel. 0031(0)15 15-2122184.
Xotus, Kleveringweg 57, is an educational recreation centre with exotic plants, a market garden, vegetables and herbs, a multicultural grocery shop and a restaurant. Also at the Kleveringenweg, at number 18, is the Bleekemolen Indoor Kart Planet, tel. 0031 0900-7223752.
GOdelft.nl
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