Delft has been a world leader in science and technology for centuries. A place where theoretical science, technology, design and business have often inspired and supported each other. The businessman Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723) established a model of Delft innovation when he earned the title ‘father of microbiology’ with the crucial help of a microscope that he designed. Since the nineteenth century, science, technology and business have also increasingly benefited from a symbiotic relationship with the arts and design in a way that has become characteristic of Delft.
Not surprisingly, then, the city is now also home to many businesses – from venerable to start-up – and a great variety of educational institutions, most notably, of course, Delft University of Technology, or TU Delft.
1842–1864: Royal Academy
On 8 January 1842, King William II established the ‘Royal Academy for the education of civilian engineers, for serving both nation and industry, and of apprentices for trade’. The Academy also trained civil servants for the colonies and tax officials for the Dutch East Indies.
1864–1905: Polytechnic School
On 2 May 1863, a law was enacted establishing the rules for technical education, bringing it under the influence of the rules that applied for secondary education. Later, on 20 June 1864, the Delft Royal Academy was disbanded by Royal Decree in order to make way for a new ‘Polytechnic School’. It began training architects and engineers in civil engineering, shipbuilding, mechanical engineering and mining.
1905–1986: Delft Institute of Technology
On 22 May 1905, a law was enacted that recognised the academic level of the technical education offered by the Polytechnic School and it became a Technical College, or Institute for Technology. Queen Wilhelmina attended the official opening on 10 July 1905. The Institute’s first Rector Magnificus was the professor of hydraulic engineering, ir. J. Kraus.
1986-present: Delft University of Technology
In accordance with a law enacted on 1 September 1986, the Institute officially became Delft University of Technology, abbreviated to TU Delft.
Industrial Design Engineering (IDE)
TU Delft’s faculty of Industrial Design Engineering was founded in the 1960s with modest means, a few lecturers and two students. It has since grown into an international teaching and research institution. Over the years, fierce debates took place about different approaches to design education, the staff developed all kinds of scientific research programmes and the faculty moved from a small attic, by way of various locations, to a large building of its own at the heart of the TU Delft campus.
The continuous growth of the faculty made both our student and our scientist population ever more international. With the shift from product to product/service-systems due to the pace of technological developments and social challenges, designers operate in an increasingly complex world.