For centuries, the Schie River has played a crucial role in the economic and social development of Delft. This river not only connects people, cities, and businesses but also bridges the past with the future. In the exhibition Industry on the Schie, we take you on a journey through time—from the beer industry to the rise of pottery factories, from Van Marken’s factories to TU Delft, from yeast production to Delft Blue ceramics.
Thanks to Delft’s strategic location along the Schie, trade flourished as early as the 14th century. Entrepreneurship is in the city’s DNA, and this remains visible to this day. Where ships once filled the quays with goods, they are now occupied by innovative companies, creative makers, and visitors enjoying the water.
Along the Schie, both multinational corporations and small artisanal businesses have established themselves, each with a unique story driven by creativity and forward-thinking entrepreneurship. Discover these stories in the exhibition, where former factory workers share their experiences in this industry. Their testimonies bring history to life and illustrate how vital their work—and the Schie itself—was to the development of Delft.
Visitors to the exhibition Industry on the Schie are immersed in the stories of factory workers, entrepreneurs, and inventors who helped shape Delft’s industrial success. Through objects from various lenders and personal testimonies collected via the oral history project, they gain a unique insight into the city’s development and its industrial heritage.
In addition to the exhibition, an extensive side program is being organized in collaboration with partners and Delft Marketing. This includes expert lectures, exclusive guided tours at special locations, and walks along industrial heritage sites, allowing visitors to experience the history and impact of the Schie even more vividly.
Today, the banks of the Schie are transforming into a vibrant area where living, working, and leisure come together. The river remains an essential lifeline—a place where history, innovation, and creativity go hand in hand. Discover how the Schie has shaped Delft and continues to be a source of inspiration for the future. Experience the past. Discover the future. Welcome to Industry on the Schie.
Industry on the Schie will be on display from March 13 to August 17, 2025.
The exhibition at the Royal Delft Museum is a collaboration with the Province of South Holland, TU Delft Hortus Botanicus, Expertise Platform Water, Erfgoed Delft, and Royal Delft.
Composition & creation: Jessica van Erkel, Liz Groen, Frank Boode
Graphic design: BUREAUBAS
Realization: Atelier van Zijderveld – De Resolutie
Text editing & translation: Texcellent, Esperanto
Photography (oral history project): Marianne Q
Podcasts & soundbites: Hanna Volbeda
Lighting: Bedrijfsverlichting.nl
Transport & art handling: Kunstwacht, HIZKIA The Hague
Lenders: Het Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam, Museum Prinsenhof Delft, Stadsarchief Delft, Archeologie Delft, Stichting Museum Van Marken, TU Hortus Botanicus, TU Delft, Tabakshistorisch Museum, dsm-firmenich, Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, Octatube, SAM XL, Scheepswerf Bocxe BV, private collectors and collections
Reproductions: Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Koninklijke Verzamelingen Den Haag, Rijksarchief Brussel, Rubber Stichting, Teylers Museum Haarlem
Made possible by: Provincie Zuid-Holland, Expertise Platform Water Delft, Erfgoed Delft, TU Hortus Botanicus
With the cooperation of: VVV Delft Marketing
Special thanks to: John & Marine van Vlissingen Art Foundation
The exhibition was opened on March 12 by the Delft councillor, Frank van Vliet
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