Paardenmarkt - Vermeer

On 12 October 1654, a huge disaster took place in Delft, the 'Delft Thunderclap'. On the site of today's Paardenmarkt, the Kruithuis used to stand. This Kruithuis housed a gigantic storehouse full of gunpowder. When this exploded during the 'Delft Thunderclap', half the city was left in ruins. A good friend of Johannes Vermeer, Carel Fabritius, lived in the Doelenstraat. Among the residents of this street, most died, including Carel Fabritius.

Fabritius was apprenticed to Rembrandt from about 1641 to 1643. In 1650, he moved to Delft. There he painted portraits, cityscapes and his famous painting The Goldfinch. Vermeer drew some of his inspiration from Fabritius' paintings.