Koornmarkt, Delft, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

Koornmarkt, or Corn Market, is one of the best-known streets in the old centre of Delft, in the Netherlands. It grew up as a place of trade, and its name and history tell you a lot about how Delft earned its living in the Middle Ages and after. It is a pleasant place to stop on any walk through the city.

The story behind it

Delft was for a long time one of the main trading towns of this part of the Netherlands, and Koornmarkt carries that history in its name and its past. In the Middle Ages both sides of the street were used for trade. One side was known as the Houtmarkt, the wood market, and the other as the Suvelmarkt, the dairy market. The second name points to the farmers of the surrounding countryside and to the famous Delft butter, which was sold and exported from the city.

The name Koornmarkt first appears in records in the sixteenth century. In that period the street also became one of the main places for breweries in Delft. Brewing was a profitable trade, and the brewers belonged to the wealthy upper layer of the city.

What to look for

• Look at the rows of brick houses along the street and picture them as merchants' premises and brewers' properties rather than only homes and cafes.
• Notice the canal setting, which is typical of Delft, and think of how goods once travelled by water to and from the markets.
• Watch the street scene itself, where the old market function has given way to quiet walking, cycling and everyday city life.
• Keep the three old names in mind, Houtmarkt, Suvelmarkt and Koornmarkt, and see how wood, dairy and grain trade shaped one single street.

Tips for your visit

• Koornmarkt is an ordinary public street, so it is free to visit and there is nothing to book.
• Ten to fifteen minutes is enough to see it, but it fits best as one part of a longer walk through the old centre.
• Early morning and evening are usually quieter, and the light on the water and brick can be lovely then.
• Delft's centre is compact and best explored on foot, so pair this street with the nearby canals, squares and churches.

See it on a quest

Koornmarkt is one stop on Highlights of Delft: The Blue's Clues, a self-guided city walk through the centre. You reach the street on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in what is in front of you. There is no guide and no group to join, so you can start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.