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> Netherlands city of Delft, known more for pottery than technology Perhaps this is true, but hopefully not any longer among HN readers: - Antonie van Leeuwen
by edejong 10y ago
> Netherlands city of Delft, known more for pottery than technology
Perhaps this is true, but hopefully not any longer among HN readers:
- Antonie van Leeuwenhoek: world first microbiologist, huge improvements in the microscope
- Martinus Beijerinck: discoverer of the virus
- Produces the Nuna, which won the world solar challenge in Australia 5 times
- steven 10y agoTouche
- edgarvaldes 10y agoI know about the city because Delft University of Technology has some courses on edX.
- WillPostForFood 10y agoErik Meijer is the first name that came to mind when I heard Delft.
- peller 10y agoPretty sure NixOS came out of TU Delft too (and that they're still involved)
- GFischer 10y agoDefinitely knew Delft from Van Leeuwenhoek :) . I didn't know Beijerinck, and I had no idea the Nuna was from there.
- vacri 10y ago- Sounds like it would be one of Terry Pratchett's characters
- MrQuincle 10y ago- List for what it's worth, 17th in Europe, 59th world-wide: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-europe https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universiti... - Inventor of Bluetooth (Jaap Haartsen) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaap_Haartsen https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaap_Haartsen - M.C. Escher
- lucb1e 10y agoHalfway through typing this comment I remembered that I indeed know of "Delft's blauw" (Delft's blue) which usually refers to a color used on pottery. So yes, I apparently do know Delft for its pottery, but much more for technology. Then again, I'm Dutch so I should know what goes on in cities here.
- wesleyy 10y agointeresting how University of Waterloo was never mentioned given its heavy ties with YC, and that it was his main university.
- Maarten88 10y agoYes, as a Delft alumni, that remark hurt a little. The Porceleyne Fles, the only remaining Delft blue manufacturer, is now a touristy place, employing probably less than 50 people. The TU is one of the better universities in the Netherlands, employing almost 5000 people, and around 16.000 students.
- sehr 10y agoIf it's worth anything, this southern Californian thinks very highly of TU Delft. Their product design course on edX was a great little introduction to the field, and the only MOOC I've actually seen the whole way through!
- graeham 10y agoAlso, TU Delft is one of the best universities in the world at engineering/ product design.