Geboortehuis Antoni - Wandeling Antoni
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was born at Oosteinde 6, his birth house was demolished in 1928, a primary school with courtyard now stands there.
BIRTH HOUSE OF ANTONI
Van Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft on 24 October 1632, the son of basket maker Philips Antonyszoon and Margaretha Bel van den Berch who descended from a lineage of beer brewers. He was baptised 'Thonis Philipszoon' on 4 November 1632; he called himself Van Leeuwenhoek presumably because his parental house which stood on the corner of the no longer existing Leeuwenpoort on Oosteinde.
Science and Art
When Antoni van Leeuwenhoek manifested himself as a researcher in the second half of the 17th century, there was a broad interest in science in Delft. This broad interest is also reflected in art: Johannes Vermeer makes paintings entitled 'The Astronomer' and 'The Geographer', and father and son Van Mierevelt paint the 'Anatomical lesson of Dr Willem van der Meer'.