Gemeenlandshuis (Water Board House), Delft

Water management and flood control in Delft in the 16th century was managed through regular checks of the dike systems. The Dike Warden and his crew would meet in the closest house or pub and stay there until the local water management problem was solved. As the city grew, a new approach was needed. So, the Waterboard House came to be.

Water Board House is a building that is used or has been used as a Water Board HQ. The Water Board, as a governing body, needed a building as impressive as the Town Hall. In Delft the Waterboard House is home to the Delfland Water Board. It is a Late-Gothic building located at Old Delft 167. It was built in 1505.

The first owner of the building was Jan de Huyter, a bailiff of Delft. The Delfland Water Board has been housed here since 1645. It has a sandstone facade covered by a generous number of Coats of Arms and shields. Inside is a huge collection of old charts and maps of Delfland.

The building is not open to public, but it is well worth a few photos from the outside.