Aelbrechtskolk

The Aelbrechtskolk, a scenic inlet in Delfshaven, traces back to 1389 when Count Albrecht of Bavaria allowed Delft to dig a canal to the Maas. Completed in the early 15th century, it became Delfshaven’s commercial lifeline for beer, grain, and herring. After Delfshaven was annexed by Rotterdam in 1886, the kolk remained a tranquil landmark. WWII bombings destroyed nearby blocks, yet several 17th‑century façades survived. Today the national heritage service protects these gabled houses whose reflections shimmer in the water. With terrace boats, historic ships, and the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church, Aelbrechtskolk is an open‑air time capsule of six centuries of urban evolution.