Gates in Delft's Wall

Delft was surrounded by a high wall, which was surrounded by a moat (singel). Parts of the wall were covered with a thick growth of tangled hawthorn bushes, which would make for a punishing climb. Other parts had a pallisade of sharp stakes.

The wall had eight main gates (poorten), for foot, horse, and carriage passage over the outer moat. The grandest of them was the Waterslootse Poort. Four of them were paired -- Schiedamse and Rotterdamse in the south, Haagpooort and Wateringse Poort in the north. These pairs shared one gate for water traffic that ran between them. Two additional smaller gates -- the Koepoort and Schoolpoort -- did not lead to another city via canal.

Only one gate remains, the first built, the Oostpoort, very close to Leeuwenhoek's boyhood home. It is circled in yellow on the top right on Blaeu's 1649 map below.

This map is oriented with northeast at the top. Starting with the Oostpoort in the top right corner and proceeding clockwise, the Rotterdamse Poort and Schiedamse Poort are in the bottom right corner. The Waterslootse Poort and the Schoolpoort are along the bottom. The Haagpoort and Wateringsepoort are right next to each other in the bottom left corner. The Koepoort is at the top center.

Delft was surrounded by a high wall, which was surrounded by a moat (singel). Parts of the wall were covered with a thick growth of tangled hawthorn bushes, which would make for a punishing climb. Other parts had a pallisade of sharp stakes.

The wall had eight main gates (poorten), for foot, horse, and carriage passage over the outer moat. The grandest of them was the Waterslootse Poort. Four of them were paired -- Schiedamse and Rotterdamse in the south, Haagpooort and Wateringse Poort in the north. These pairs shared one gate for water traffic that ran between them. Two additional smaller gates -- the Koepoort and Schoolpoort -- did not lead to another city via canal.

Only one gate remains, the first built, the Oostpoort, very close to Leeuwenhoek's boyhood home. It is circled on the top right on Blaeu's 1649 map below.

This map is oriented with northeast at the top. Starting with the Oostpoort in the top right corner and proceeding clockwise, the Rotterdamse Poort and Schiedamse Poort are in the bottom right corner. The Waterslootse Poort and the Schoolpoort are along the bottom. The Haagpoort and Wateringsepoort are right next to each other in the bottom left corner. The Koepoort is at the top center.