17th Century Delft???

Question

What was in like, Any details you have. Was it very busy? Was it large and was it harsh to the poor or the homeless?

Answer 1

Good question.

Delft was, in those days, a medium large city. A lot of trade went on locally. Delft was known for its beer and earthenware. Several famous painters lived there. All cities were busy and Delft was no exception.

Delft wasn't harsh to the poor or homeless: there were several orphanages and 'hofjes'. The latter being a kind of old age pensioner's home, some private, some public and some by the church and yet others paid for by the guilds.



Live wasn't very friendly to people who were poor or homeless in those days, but their conditions  in the Republic of the United Netherlands was comparatively better than elsewhere.

Dutch cities were powerful government bodies. Delft was more or less in the running for capital, but "lost the bid". Amsterdam was far too big and powerful to become capital (the other cities would never agree to it), so nearby The Hague, a village at that time, became the seat of the national government. Mainly because it wasn't a city and consequently could influence the national government less.