Chronology of events: city history

For some events, the year is certain but the month and day are not. Example: We know only the year for the collections of Leeuwenhoek's letters published in Dutch during his lifetime.

For other events, the season or month are certain but the day is not. Example: Leeuwenhoek mentions that someone visited him "last month".

On the other hand, many events did indeed happen on the first day of a month. Example: public appointments to Delft's city offices took effect on January 1 of each year. Thus:

  • A date of January 1 in a given year may indicate that the year is certain but the month and day are not.
  • A date of 1 in a given month may indicate that the year and month are certain but the day is not.

Unless otherwise indicated, for events in England, the date given is Old Style, 10 days behind the Dutch Republic's New Style until 1700 and then 11 days behind.

April 15, 1246 Count Willem II granted Delft city rights
June 12, 1246 Beginning of Delft's annual June market
October 23, 1266 Count Floris V granted Delft freedom from tolls on imports and exports
January 14, 1267 Count Floris V granted the citizens of Delft complete freedom from tolls in his whole county.
November 30, 1268 Count Floris V expanded the size of the city
May 5, 1280 Count Floris V granted the citizens of Delft the right to charge taxes on dry goods
September 29, 1295 Count Floris V granted Delft's citizens the rights to a meathouse and breadhouse and the income from them.
December 14, 1299 Count Jan II confirmed the rights granted by Floris V
May 1, 1310 Count Willem III granted the citizens of Delft their own secular court.
November 27, 1342 Count Willem IV granted Delft a variety of rights over its own commercial affairs
December 20, 1342 Count Willem IV granted Delft the right to choose its own city secretary
January 1, 1350 Oude Kerk tower completed, already leaning due to subsidence
May 3, 1355 Count Willem V gave Delft permission to build bulwarks topped by walls around the city
March 11, 1359 Duke Albrecht I took Delft's city walls and important city rights after a month-long seige during the dispute between the Hook and Cod political factions
August 11, 1381 Nieuwe Kerk construction began; completed in 1655.
January 1, 1389 Duke Albrecht I established an elected water board
September 8, 1389 Duke Albrecht I extended to the citizens of Delft permission to dig a canal to the Maas River
July 6, 1394 Duke Albrecht I gave the citizens of Delft permission to build a new city wall
August 13, 1396 Duke Albrecht I restored Delft's city rights
September 6, 1396 First stone laid for the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk
January 1, 1400 Delft had around 6,500 inhabitants
February 28, 1425 Jan van Brabant extended Delft's city rights to those living along the Schie
July 3, 1428 Duke Philip of Burgundy and Countess Jacqueline of Bavaria signed the Reconciliation of Delft ending the Hook and Cod wars
June 30, 1436 Duke Philip of Burgundy granted the Marktveld to Delft
September 7, 1445 Duke Philip of Burgundy issued a charter for Delft city fathers to appoint the first city council.
April 1, 1449 Duke Philip of Burgundy gave the city permission to continue building the city wall and towers.
July 13, 1450 Duke Philip of Burgundy granted Delft permission to build a watermill at the end of the Geerweg
September 6, 1496 Nieuwe Kerk tower completed
May 3, 1536 Fire destroyed a third of the houses in Delft.
January 1, 1560 Delft had around 14,000 inhabitants
August 24, 1566 Beeldenstorm spread to Delft
July 27, 1572 Delft surrendered to the Geuzen (Beggars)
December 31, 1572 Willem of Orange chose Delft as his headquarters during the Revolt
July 30, 1574 The State of Holland decided to flood the country to impede the Spanish invasion
July 26, 1581 Act of Abjuration proclaimed independence of the new Dutch Republic
July 10, 1584 William, Prince of Orange, assassinated in Prinsenhof.
March 20, 1602 VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) chamber established in Delft
March 3, 1618 Delft Stadhuis burned down.
August 29, 1618 Calvinist Revolution (1618)
September 24, 1618 Delft Veertigraad purged of 14 Arminians by Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
July 1, 1621 Mayors established a bank in City Hall
December 21, 1650 In 2nd stadthouderless period, Delft granted charter for an independent Veertigraad
October 12, 1654 Delft Thunderclap: fire following explosion killed 1200 people and destroyed much of Delft
January 1, 1667 Dirck van Bleyswyck's Beschryvinge der Stadt Delft, Description of the City of Delft, published
April 9, 1672 Disaster Year: Delft sent troops to help defend against the invading French army
June 29, 1672 Disaster Year: unemployed protestors from Schiedam occupied Delft city hall
September 10, 1672 Disaster Year: half of the Veertigraad replaced with pro-Orangist regents
July 4, 1678 Lambert Twent named first postmaster of Delft