Old Delft Water Walk
We walk all the way down the Raam, turning left onto the Rietveld. The name Rietveld refers to the reed fields east of Delft, where the city expanded in the mid-14th century. The soil consisted of clay and peat; this peat compacted considerably due to construction and drainage. This is why the Rietveld (and Vlamingstraat) is so low-lying, as explained at stop 5.
The Rietveld (and the entire city) has continued to subside in recent decades, partly as a result of the now almost complete cessation of groundwater extraction in Delft Noord (see New Delft Water Walk – Groundwater Extraction by DSM).
Part of the Raam drains back into the Rietveld via long grates in the street.
Het Raam drains on the Rietveld.
