The Delft University of Technology (Dutch: Technische Universiteit Delft) in Delft, the Netherlands, is the nation's largest technical university, with over 15,000 students, 2,700 scientists (including 200 professors) and 1,800 people in the support and management staff. It is a member of the IDEA League and ranks amongst the top universities in the world in the field of technology according to the Times Higher Education ranking.

History

The university was founded on the 8th of January, 1842 by King William II of the Netherlands as the Koninklijke Akademie ter opleiding van burgerlijke ingenieurs zoo voor 's lands dienst als voor de nijverheid en van kweekelingen voor den handel (Royal Academy for the education of civil engineers for service to the country, as well as for industry and for trainees in commerce). On the 20th of June the Royal Academy was dissolved by Royal Decree and a Polytechnic School was to be founded in Delft. On the 22nd of May, 1905 it received the name Technische Hogeschool van Delft (Delft Technical College) by law, thereby becoming an academic and doctoral institution. Around this time there were approximately 450 students. On the 25th of September, 1985 it was decided by law to change the name to Technische Universiteit Delft (Delft University of Technology).