Delft Day

Welcome to our day in the city of Delft. It is the Delft so famous for the blue and white painted china pieces. It is the Delft of quaint old brick streets, bustling markets, and a church worthy of royalty. We saw it all. But you only get to see a couple churches. 

My apologies. 

But, I have to leave you things to discover for yourselves and a reason to come visit and see the sites!

Plus, my photography skills wouldn't be able to do the town justice anyway. But you may be comforted knowing that you can probably look the town up on Google Images and find photos that are even more picturesque than real life. . . if that is possible in Delft. 

Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy our little visit to Delft . . .

We started in de Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church) which is not so new. And the observant viewer will notice that the steeple is multicolored, this is due to some reconstruction as a result of lightning.  

The Nieuwe Kerk is the resting place of Dutch Royalty. The raised block framed by rope lifts to reveal a vault where the caskets are lain. In modern days a crane is used  to lift the gigantic slab, in the days of old they must have had employed giants. 

The most decorated and perhaps the Royal that all the royals of The Netherlands owe their royalty to is William I, Prince of Orange. He led the revolt against the Spanish and over threw their rule so that The Netherlands could be an independent country. In 1584, he was assassinated in Delft and so they buried him there in this magnificent monument. 

In a church in The Netherlands you always have to look up to see how the ceiling is decorated. 

The Oude Kerk (the Old Church) of Delft is indeed old. The building project that still stands was begun in 1246 AD, but a church had been meeting in that spot but the spot was the meeting place of the church in Delft since about 1000 AD. We saw a map of Delft in 1246 AD  . . . it gave a whole new meaning to the idea of a 'small and rural'. 

The interior of the Oude Kerk. This church has been through a lot over the years, so unfortunately those windows are fairly new. 

But this pulpit is an old treasure. 

The craftsmanship is indescribable, and all the more for having survived since 1548, yes ladies and gentlemen, the pulpit has been decorating Delft 40 years longer than Prince William of Orange. 

A side chapel of the church with miniature pulpit and miniature organ (right). 

Town square of Delft. A sort of market was going on so some very modern is mixed in with the classic buildings.

This sign is letting us know that we are leaving Delft. 

Yes, we traveled to and from Delft on our bicycles and we enjoyed all 16 miles (round trip) of it.  

I enjoyed the trip so much I thought I would share some of it via photos. 

Plus, I've been wanting to show you what it looks like to ride bike in The Netherlands so that I can illustrate the comfort and safety involved in the experience. I wish the U.S. would copy this design. 

The Netherlands may be small, but somehow there is plenty of open space to enjoy. 

Here is a good example of a little country house. We enjoyed many such sites during our ride.