Constantijn Huygens Gallery
Hundreds of stories adorn the Constantijn Huygens Gallery in the Huis van Delft. The walls and ceilings are covered with 22,000 handmade Delft blue tiles, which together form a panoramic narrative of Delft through the centuries. Trade, science, art and stories about famous Delft pioneers come to life. In this way, artist Job Smeets creates an environment in which details invite discovery and where the boundary between fact and imagination becomes palpable.
Ahead of its opening in 2027, the Constantijn Huygens Gallery is already open to visitors on occasion.
Want to know when? Check the latest information in the Huis van Delft calendar!
Sneak preview - (The Constantijn Huygens Gallery will open to the public from mid-2027)
About the artwork
Here, you step into Delft through hundreds of stories. Look up and around you: the walls and ceilings are entirely clad in Delft blue tiles, handmade by Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum. Together, they form a ‘ indrukwekkend ’ panorama that tells a rich and multi-layered story about the ‘City of Princes’. Each tile contributes to a visual journey through the history, culture and identity of Delft as a city of pioneers.
As you stroll through the Constantijn Huygens Gallery, you’ll discover Delft through the centuries. You’ll recognise groundbreaking inventions, defining moments in the city’s history and the splendour of the Golden Age. Think of trade, science and art, but also the everyday lives of ordinary residents. At the same time, the darker side has not been overlooked. Themes such as power struggles, inequality and forgotten stories are also given a place here. The Constantijn Huygens Gallery shows that history is never a single narrative, but always consists of multiple perspectives and interpretations.
Artist Job Smeets has designed this space as an almost sacred place of wonder. You don’t need to know anything or hold any sacred beliefs to wander around here: everyone is welcome to come in and stay. Take a step back and experience the whole, or choose a single tile, zoom in on the details and discover unexpected scenes.
Some images deliberately play with the boundary between fact and imagination. What really happened, and what is interpretation? As you look, you are invited to reflect on how history is recorded and passed on. Job Smeets encourages you to think critically: “Fake news is timeless, so ask yourself: did this really happen?”
Access via Winkel van Delft
From mid-2027, the Constantijn Huygens Gallery will be open six days a week with free admission via the Winkel van Delft (VVV Delft).
View the current opening hours here.
House of Delft
The new Huis van Delft is situated in the heart of the Nieuw Delft district, at the head of the railway zone next to the station. An ode to craftsmanship and imagination. An iconic building full of character, where different worlds come together. A place where the pioneers of today and tomorrow can meet and inspire one another, as well as the city’s residents and visitors.
Behind three-metre-high glass façades (whose contours reference the houses of famous Delft pioneers who changed the world), the Jan Schoonhoven Theatre, the Constantijn Huygens Gallery and the Innovation Gallery, where leading Delft-based companies will share their innovative knowledge and ideas through rotating exhibitions.
From mid-2027, the Huis van Delft will be open and largely open to the public free of charge. Until then, some areas are already open to visitors. Up-to-date information can be found in the Huis van Delft calendar.
More about Huis van Delft
This website was produced by Delft Marketing on behalf of Huis van Delft.