Delft

Delft
A view of Delft with the Oude Kerk in the centre
Nickname: 
Prinsenstad (Prince City)
Location in South Holland
Delft
Location within the Netherlands
Delft
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 52°0′42″N 4°21′33″E / 52.01167°N 4.35917°E / 52.01167; 4.35917
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
City HallCity Hall
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorAlexander Pechtold (D66)
Area
 • Total
24.06 km2 (9.29 sq mi)
 • Land22.65 km2 (8.75 sq mi)
 • Water1.41 km2 (0.54 sq mi)
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)
 • Total
103,581
 • Density4,573/km2 (11,840/sq mi)
Demonyms
  • Delftenaar
  • Delvenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcodes
2600–2629
Area code015
Websitewww.delft.nl

Delft (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdɛl(ə)ft] ) is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam, to the southeast, and The Hague, to the northwest. Together with them, it is a part of both the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area and the Randstad.

Delft is a popular tourist destination in the Netherlands, famous for its historical connections with the reigning House of Orange-Nassau, for its blue pottery, for being home to the painter Jan Vermeer, and for hosting Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Historically, Delft played a highly influential role in the Dutch Golden Age. In terms of science and technology, thanks to the pioneering contributions of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and Martinus Beijerinck, Delft can be considered to be the birthplace of microbiology.