title: Timeline of Delft
text: # Timeline of Delft
  
  The following is a timeline of the history of the municipality of Delft, Netherlands.
  
  ## Prior to 18th century
  
  * 1075 - Town established by Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine.
  * 1246 - Delft granted city rights by William II of Holland.
  * 1250 - St. Bartholomew's Church construction begins.
  * 1383 - Nieuwe Kerk (Delft) (church) construction begins.
  * 1389 - Canal to the Meuse river created.
  * 1400 - Eastern Gate (Delft) built.
  * 1403 - Agathaklooster (convent) established.
  * 1470 - Carthusian monastery established.
  * 1477 - Printing press in operation; Delft Bible issued.
  * 1536 - 3 May: Delft fire of 1536 [nl].
  * 1575 - Museum Het Prinsenhof converted into a residence for the counts of Orange.
  * 1583 - Birth of Hugo Grotius, philosopher, political theorist and poet.
  * 1584 - William I, Prince of Orange assassinated in Museum Het Prinsenhof.
  * 1586 - Scientists Simon Stevin and Jan Cornets de Groot conduct a landmark experiment on the effects of gravity from the roof of the Nieuwe Kerk.
  * 1611 - Guild of Saint Luke founded (approximate date).
  * 1618 - City Hall (Delft) rebuilt.
  * 1621 - Bank of Delft established.
  * 1632 - Future scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and future artist Johannes Vermeer born in Delft.
  * 1647 - Production of Delft pottery begins to expand.
  * 1652 - Fabritius paints A View of Delft artwork.
  * 1653 - Royal Delft porcelain factory begins operating.
  * 1654 - 12 October: Delft Explosion [nl].
  * 1661 - Vermeer paints View of Delft artwork.
  * 1692 - Armamentarium built.
  
  ## 18th-19th centuries
  
  * 1721 - Delftsche Courant newspaper begins publication.
  * 1769 - Stadsleenbank Delft (bank) built (approximate date).
  * 1842 - Royal Academy of Delft [nl] (engineering school) established.
  * 1859 - Delft City Archive active.
  * 1862 - Delft Synagogue [nl] built in Koornmarkt (Delft) [nl].
  * 1866 - Population: 21,877.
  * 1882 - Maria van Jessekerk [nl] (church) built.
  * 1884 - Agnetapark workers' housing developed.
  * 1886
     * Hugo Grotius monument erected in the Markt (Delft) [nl].
     * Sint-Hippolytuskerk (Delft) [nl] (church) built.
  * 1895 - Watertower (Delft) [nl] built.
  * 1900 - Population: 31,582.
  
  ## 20th century
  
  * 1905 - Delft Institute of Technology active.
  * 1911 - Museum Het Prinsenhof active.
  * 1919 - Population: 38,433.
  * 1920 - Gerardus van Baren [nl] becomes mayor.
  * 1921 - Hof van Delft and Vrijenban become part of Delft.
  * 1970 - Roadway speed bump installed.
  * 1976 - Tanthof development begins.
  * 1977 - City Statistisch Jaarboek (yearbook) begins publication.
  
  ## 21st century
  
  * 2004 - Bas Verkerk [nl] becomes mayor.
  * 2007 - DOK Delft [nl] (library) built.
  * 2015 - Delft railway station rebuilt.
  * 2016
     * Marja van Bijsterveldt becomes mayor.
     * Population: 101,053.
  