The Chambers of Delft and Rotterdam were situated in close proximity to one another and the Meuse (Maas) was the home port for the ships of both Chambers. These two Chambers also belonged to what were known as the quartet of smaller chambers. In fact, Delft and Rotterdam were such close neighbours that many sailors switched from one Chamber to the other during their lives. The same can be said of the commanders. Nevertheless, for all their similarities there were differences between the two Chambers, many of which will emerge more clearly in the next chapter about Rotterdam.

The lifestyle of Delft commanders and ship’s officers did not differ greatly from that of their colleagues in the West Frisian towns. Delft had always had more inhabitants than either Enkhuizen or Hoorn but the town was situated on a much smaller area of land. Consequently Delft was both more densely populated and busier. The walls were not extended after 1355 but the town reached its largest population – approximately 24,000 – around 1680. After that Delft fell into a decline, dropping to 15,000 inhabitants by 1733 and to some 14,000 in 1749. After that the number remained fairly stable.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, around 1700, there were still quite a few industries in Delft, such as brewing, textile manufacture and pottery making. Gradually these fell into decline and during the century this decline gained such momentum that many breweries and potteries closed. By the end of the century Delft had been transformed from an industrial town into a market and service centre for the region. The face of the town altered. Factories disappeared from the most important canals and this made way for a greater distinction between rich and poor. The rich lived in the centre, along the most imposing canals and in the large market squares. The poor had their dwellings in the remaining 125 alleyways, small streets and other streets along lesser canals. The more indigent a person was, the closer his or her dwelling was likely to be to the town walls and gates. In the first half of the eighteenth century, the different social groups were still relatively evenly dispersed throughout the town. In 1790, an English visitor described Delft as ‘exceedingly dull’. A later historian called it a ‘quiet, tidy place’.