Date of trip: May 2008

Will and I have always been fans of the famous blue and white Delft porcelain so we decided to check out the city where it’s made. The train ride was about an hour from Amsterdam but it was scenic and pretty. I expected the city to be quaint but it was actually quite active with plenty of shops and restaurants. There were also a lot of people and most of them were zipping around on bikes so we had to keep our heads up and watch where we were walking.

Highlights:

-Our first stop was the Royal Delft Factory, the top producer of the aforementioned Delft porcelain. There is a museum where you can learn all about the history of the company and see antiques made in years past. You can also walk though the production room and watch actual pieces being created. Guided tours are offered at different times depending on the season, but it’s very easy to find your own way around. Before you leave, you can visit the showroom to buy souvenirs. Although Delftware is expensive, the shop has a number of smaller and on sale items at reasonable prices.

-Delft’s Old Church is, as its name suggests, the oldest in the city. The floor is covered in grave stones making it uneven and somewhat tricky to walk. Although there are 400 people buried within the building, the most famous is Dutch painter, Johannes Vermeer of “Girl With a Pearl Earring” fame. The artist was a resident of the city and his plaque is easily found as fans often cover it with flowers. Also of note in the church are the 27 magnificent stained glass windows by Joep Nicolas.

-Not far away stands the New Church. Although construction began in 1396, it’s 150 years younger than the Old Church. If you pay for admission to one church, the ticket is also valid to visit the other. The New Church is the final resting place of the royal family of The Netherlands. There is a long spiral staircase that visitors can take to the top of the church’s tower for an additional fee. It is a difficult climb, but worth it as the view from the top is the best in the city.

Delft is a great walking city. Everywhere you turn there is something to see. Even though I enjoyed the places we visited, my favorite moment in Delft was completely unplanned. As we rested in the shade of some big trees in an old farmers square called Beestenmarkt, a street organ rolled up and began to play. It reminded me that travel is full of unexpected surprises and those are often what you remember long after you’ve returned home.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Delft Links:
Delft Official Site
Royal Delft Porcelain Factory
Delft Old Church
Delft New Church