Netherlands: Delft

I spent an afternoon in Delft, a beautiful Dutch town complete with canals, a marketplace that hasn't changed in centuries, and the Royal Delft porcelain factory.



While walking to the porcelain factory, I got to watch this bridge raise and let the boat go through. The bridge is small - only pedestrians and bikes allowed.

I learned a few interesting things at the Royal Delft factory.

1. In the early 1900s most of the porcelain produced was for industrial purposes, used in interior (and exterior) decorating, as seen below.

2. Royal Delft is still painted by hand - making it very expensive.

3. Royal Delft makes a special edition Christmas plate each year.

4. They have done a tile reproduction of Rembrandt's Night Watch. (more than 400 tiles are used to create this. they were numbered, then painted, then reassembled. wow.)

5. They have beautiful toilets.

Here's a picture of one side of the market square. There is a Vermeer Center one street over, which talks about the artist and his life in Delft. He grew up in a house on the corner of the marketplace, and probably played in the square.

Super photo of the spires of a nearby church.

Interesting photo of the flowers growing in the cracks in the walls of the canal. I was interested in the fact that there were no railings along the sides of the canals. I wonder how many people fall in.

A very large and very interesting building that was built as a private residence.

A light post made from porcelain.

A lovely view on my way out of town.

Delft is a lovely little town, and my only regret was that I didn't get to spend more time there. I'd have liked to take the tours of the churches, as well as a couple of other museums. Perhaps next time.