Delft's Dutch Scientists
Comments focus on notable historical figures from Delft, Netherlands, especially Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's pioneering work in microscopy and microbiology, along with connections to painter Vermeer and other scientists like Beijerinck and van der Waals.
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Vandermonde. He was not Dutch, he was French. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre-Théophile_Vandermond...
Johannes Diderik van der Waals!
I was always under the impression that Antoni van Leeuwenhoek (who is Dutch, not German) invented the microscope. I can't find anything about a German Count who funded microsope research anywhere. Does anybody know a source for this?
Although the article doesn't mention it, there is evidence that Vermeer had access to optical devices: Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, inventor of the microscope, born in the same year (1632) lived very close to Vermeer in Delft and was named the executor of his will, so they must have known each other well.
Definitely knew Delft from Van Leeuwenhoek :) . I didn't know Beijerinck, and I had no idea the Nuna was from there.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek - How a Dutch fabric seller made the most powerful magnifying lens of his time—and of the next 150 years—and became the first person ever to see a microorganism.
> Netherlands city of Delft, known more for pottery than technologyPerhaps 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
While it's circumstantial evidence, Vermeer lived only a few streets away from Anton van Leeuwenhoek (known as the father of microbiology, and who made numerous innovations in microscope design) in the tiny Dutch town of Delft - which also manages to famous for its university and fine china, despite having only ~25,000 people. Vermeer and Van Leeuwenhok definitely knew each other: van Leeuwenhok was the executor of Vermeer's will.So Vermeer certainly had access to state of th
Interesting supporting factoid about the lenses not mentioned in the article: Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, inventor of the microscope, born in the same year (1632) lived two streets away from Vermeer in Delft.It was a tiny city back then, the men very likely knew each other, so Vermeer would have had access to the best lenses and the world's leading expert of that time.