[3] Van der Ulft was according to the early biographer Arnold Houbraken the best glass painter of his century.

Van der Ulft made oil painting and engraving of old ruins, showing each crack and cranny.

When compared with the painting by Pieter Jansz Saenredam van der Ulft gave his version a wider foreground in which he placed more staffage.

He also copied the incorrect date of the fire from Saenredam, which was written on the canopy of the town hall: '1651', a year too early.

This painting, highly detailed and populated with townspeople in all manner of dress and occupation contributed to his fame.