Also In 1591 Prince Maurice of Orange visited the port with a fleet of 150 ships which saw the capture of the city from the Spanish by a combined Dutch and English army.

The fortifications were removed in 1875,[5] making room for the train station, and leaving one branch of the moat for recreational purposes, with ice skating in some years.

The town was damaged in World War II, and artifacts of the battle can be found in monuments, bunkers, and old armored vehicles usually on display, but disrupted now since 2017 by a major reconstruction of the water front area.

[15][16] On the edge of Delfzijl, and easily approached on foot or by bicycle across new parks and wood lands, the church at Uitwierde with its free standing tower dates from about the year 1200.

Industrial expansion in the 1970s and 1980s displaced old villages of Weiwerd[19] and Heveskes[20] which are remembered in photos and local monuments maintained by previous residents.

A few Kilometers farther down the coast are the villages of Borgsweer[23] and Termunten[24] that give some idea of the traditional land use before industrial expansion.

Nearby at Termunterzijl[25] is located a gate in the sea dike and a small marina inside the fresh water harbor, giving an idea of how Delfzijl looked in the early years.

Delfzijl has a strong tradition of seafaring and there is a specialized school to train employees for the shipping industry located nearby in the fresh water port area[27] established in 1930.

After some years at sea the graduates are highly regarded and recruited by local industry where they work as factory operators, mechanics, supervisors, or practical engineers.

The inland fresh water port is extensive with several canals coming together, making a sheltered loading area and facilities for hauling out smaller ships for refitting and inspections.

Farmlands occupy most of the region producing potatoes, sugar beets, oil seeds, grain, dairy products, cattle and wool making Delfzijl a local market town and adding to the economy.

Fishing is done in the shallow seas with some of the boats operating out of Delfzijl and Farmsum harbor where much inland shipping is also handled.

A wide variety of cargoes from all over the world are handled by the port, which also receives visiting navy ships from NATO countries.

There are two railway stations in municipality giving frequent service to Groningen and points in between, with connections to other locations: A branch of the railroad tracks passes through gates in the sea dike to serve the harbor area and near by industries.

The large trucking company Lommerts has offices and terminals in Delfzijl harbor area connecting with sea going traffic.

[31] Modern highways link Delfzijl with destinations in Europe, and easy access to inland resort areas near Gieten in Drenthe on weekends.

A system of old and new draw bridges manages the flow of traffic across canals and around locks where water level is raised and lowered.

Many people prefer to walk in Delfzijl which is made possible by reasonable distances, low crime rate, and mild maritime climate that is often cloudy, cool, wet, and windy.

This is the result of a strategic collaboration with the German town of Emden on the other side of the Eems Estuary, and North Sea natural gas that comes on shore near Delfzijl.

Authorities for public safety, city services, oversight of industry, harbor control, and management of water levels have a strong presence in Delfzijl and can call on assistance from trained volunteers when needed.

Many political parties are active in Delfzijl, with much support given to labor, business, education, religious views, family values, and environmental protection.