Gemeenlandshuis
(Delft Regional Water and Dyke Board HQ) on Oude Delft. This Water
Board had far reaching powers in all matters concerning building
dykes, ditches, canals, windmills, maintainging water levels and
generally with the annual upkeep of all systems.
The higher engineering personnel was appointed because of their expertise. The region's physical existence hinged upon them carrying out their tasks properly. If the dykes would break, the land would be engulfed.
The institution still owns an extensive collection of ancient charts and maps of the Delfland region. Its costly sandstone facade is exuberantly adorned with all manner of shields and ornaments.
Leendert van Beke had the "kastelijn" function.
This page forms part of a large encyclopedic site on Delft. Research by Drs. Kees Kaldenbach (email). A full presentation is on view at johannesvermeer.info.
Launched 16 February 2005; Last update March 1, 2017. More info in the RKD site.