The Canals of Delft

Yesterday dawned blue with cold. Hovering around 3°C most of the day, the clear sky lured us into thinking a walk around the city would be a good idea. 

Oude Delft canal

The seduction worked. We headed out, bundled with hats and gloves and layers of jackets, fumbly with cameras at the ready, into this photogenic little city.

Located in Zuid-Holland, a region in southern Netherlands, the city of Delft hosts about 100,000 residents who live inside the canal ring. The word Delft comes from the Dutch word delven, which means "to dig," an important part of the story of the city.

Coat of Arms
William of Holland
in 13th c illustrated manuscript
The Historia Anglorum by Matthew Paris

Initially a charter to dig the grachten was issued by Earl William II in 1246, which also allowed the residents the rights to have their own court, host a local market and construct a toll road leading inside the canal ring. William granted three other cities similar charters before dying while in battle at age 28.

The canals that William granted provided water transport from the port at Rotterdam about 25 miles south. Known as Delfshaven, the port connected the landlocked city of Delft to the burgeoning global trade of the late medieval period. This allowed the tiny city to flourish both economically and culturally for over 700 years.

But the canals also served as defense against intruders, in which case they would be known as singels; or for drainage since most of the Netherlands is situated below sea level. The dredged canals channel the waters away from the city, while the dredged soil was used as the foundation for merchants' homes.

Today the canals are used for tourist charter boats, fishing, swimming and as host to resident boat houses. They are an integral part of the city's character.

Delft train station and ring canal at sunrise