Gemeenlandhuis 'Het Huyterhuis' - Wandeling Delftse Waterwegen

The Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland was founded in 1289 by Count Floris de V. For 730 years, the water board has been working on three tasks: keeping dry feet (protection by a good water system), water safety (protection by dykes and embankments) and purifying waste water (the treatment plants). Delfland Water Board bought this property in 1645 and converted it into office space. Want to take a look inside? Watch the film below from Open Monuments.

Sandy ground and high ground
Oude Delft belongs to the oldest part of the city and is located on sandy soil. Sandy soil hardly sinks in, unlike the surrounding peat soils.

Look at the difference in height between the street level and the water level (1.5-2 m). Keep this in mind, because at point 3 Rietveld we ask you to look again at the difference in height between street level and water level.

The location of Delft in the Delfland management area
Delfland's management area extends from the North Sea to Berkel en Rodenrijs and from the Nieuwe Waterweg to The Hague. Delft is fairly low compared to the surrounding water levels and also far from the North Sea and the Nieuwe Waterweg (where the pumping stations are located), which means that flooding occurs faster in Delft than elsewhere in Delfland's management area. Excess rainwater is drained through canals and with pumps (pumping stations).

Flooding
In 1998, 1999 and 2000, Delfland experienced flooding, including in Delft. It was investigated how this was possible and three main causes emerged from the research, namely:
1. climate change (more intense rainfall, temperature increase)
2. subsidence (peaty subsoil, ground and subsoil stress due to construction activities)
3. increase in paved surface area (greenhouse construction, housing, road construction)