Day 7: Full day exploring Delft
Staying 2 Nights at Hotel de PlataanOur home in Delft was the quirky Hotel de Plataan. With a bustling guest lounge/ breakfast area and uniquely decorated
rooms (my room had a woodsy, camp-ground theme), it was definitely the most interesting place we stayed during the tour. Unfortunately, the hotel was doing some remodeling at the time, so I wasn't able to get a good picture of the front. But I did get a picture of the group in the fun breakfast/ happy hour lounge. |
The hotel covered by scaffolding |
After breakfast together, we met our local tour guide, Anne (a Brit expat who'd been living in Delft for more than 30 years), who led us on a walking tour. She started by pointing out several notable sites relating to Delft's most famous citizen: painter Johannes Vermeer, including the street that inspired
his painting View of Houses in Delft. Then she took us to Papenstraat where one wall is covered by
a gorgeous mosaic map showing Delft as it was in the 17th century.
his painting View of Houses in Delft. Then she took us to Papenstraat where one wall is covered by
a gorgeous mosaic map showing Delft as it was in the 17th century.
Dutch lesson #4: Straat (as in Papenstraat) means "street."
Fun fact: Even though he was born and died in Delft, there are actually no original Vermeer works
there. The original works all hang in various museums and galleries around the world. The Vermeer Centrum Delft is the only place in the world that shows full-size reproductions of all the paintings.
there. The original works all hang in various museums and galleries around the world. The Vermeer Centrum Delft is the only place in the world that shows full-size reproductions of all the paintings.
Next, we stepped inside the gothic Oude Kerk (Old Church), nicknamed "Old John" and also called
"Tipsy John" because its high brick tower leans about 6 feet from vertical. The church's original stained glass windows were destroyed by a city fire in 1536 and gunpowder explosion in 1654, and were not replaced until the 20th century. The church is most notable as the burial site of Johannes Vermeer.
"Tipsy John" because its high brick tower leans about 6 feet from vertical. The church's original stained glass windows were destroyed by a city fire in 1536 and gunpowder explosion in 1654, and were not replaced until the 20th century. The church is most notable as the burial site of Johannes Vermeer.
A view of the Old Church's famously leaning tower
After leaving the Old Church, Anne had us do as the Dutch do: we took a coffee break!
I had a hot chocolate of course!
Then we headed back across the Markt to visit the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), where, in 1548, William
of Orange (aka "William the Silent," aka "William the Taciturn") was buried and where all the members of the House of Orange-Nassau, the current reigning house of the Netherlands, have been buried since. It is also the burial place of Delft-born Hugo de Groot, an influential 17th-century philosopher and political scholar. His statue stands in front of the church.
of Orange (aka "William the Silent," aka "William the Taciturn") was buried and where all the members of the House of Orange-Nassau, the current reigning house of the Netherlands, have been buried since. It is also the burial place of Delft-born Hugo de Groot, an influential 17th-century philosopher and political scholar. His statue stands in front of the church.
After the New Church, we said good-bye to Anne, and Ellen brought us to De Candelaer, one of
only three genuine handmade Delftware factories in Delft. Delftware is a style of pottery developed
in 17th-century Delft that was originally based on the blue-and-white pottery imported from
China. Fourth-generation owner Steffan and painter Anna gave us a private demonstration of how
the pottery is shaped, fired, and hand-painted on-site. After the demonstration, I couldn't help but
do some Christmas shopping! :-D
only three genuine handmade Delftware factories in Delft. Delftware is a style of pottery developed
in 17th-century Delft that was originally based on the blue-and-white pottery imported from
China. Fourth-generation owner Steffan and painter Anna gave us a private demonstration of how
the pottery is shaped, fired, and hand-painted on-site. After the demonstration, I couldn't help but
do some Christmas shopping! :-D
After leaving De Candelaer, the rest of the day was ours, to explore Delft on our own. First, I did a little people-watching in the Markt and then I headed back in the direction of the Old Church to get a closer look at a small gated park we'd passed by on the walking tour. Then I had lunch at Cafe de Oude Jan, where I enjoyed an amazing bratwurst sandwich.
I continued exploring Delft's cobbled streets and found myself in a square called De Beestenmarkt,
where I treated myself to a slice of Dutch apple pie at the cafe Kobus Kuch.
where I treated myself to a slice of Dutch apple pie at the cafe Kobus Kuch.
Science fact: The canals in Ghent were green due to an abundance of algae and duckweed. I thought
it made the canals more unique and picturesque.
it made the canals more unique and picturesque.
I ended my afternoon ramble at Oostpoort (East Gate), a city gate just outside the town center. Built in 1400, it is the only remaining town gate, the rest having been demolished in the 19th century. A woman was there painting a watercolor of the gate, and she kindly let me take a picture of her work.
Sad fact: Later that evening, Ellen hosted a happy hour in the hotel's lounge where we were invited
to enjoy complimentary nibbles and Dutch cocktails. It was lovely, but because I'm a nincompoop
(or was maybe a little tipsy), I didn't get any pictures of the evening! :-(
to enjoy complimentary nibbles and Dutch cocktails. It was lovely, but because I'm a nincompoop
(or was maybe a little tipsy), I didn't get any pictures of the evening! :-(