The Great Delft Thunderclap Of 1654

Radio Netherlands

(4.3 estrellas; 10 reseñas)

The day the world came to an end: The great Delft Thunderclap of 1654 commemorates the 350th anniversary of one of the most bizarre events to take place in the 17th century. On October 12, 1654, a normal Monday morning in the Dutch city of Delft turned catastrophic when 90,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded in five almost simultaneous, thunderous blasts.

This explosion was so powerful that it could be heard as far away as the island of Texel, 150 kilometers away. Dramatically, it was claimed that 100,000 cannons pointed towards the city couldn’t have done more damage. A quarter of Delft was destroyed, with at least 100 people killed and thousands wounded.

Known as the Delft Thunderclap, this event led some to believe that the very gates of hell had opened up, and God’s wrath had rained down upon them, marking what may have been the largest man-made blast the world had ever seen.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.