Holiday in Holland - Visit to Delft on our last day

 We enjoyed another full day before boarding our Stena Hollandica Ferry for our overnight crossing back to Harwich. 

Before lunch a tour of the Royal Delft Museum had been arranged for the party. Our tour guide explained the history of Delft ware to us. I was particularly interested to hear about the production of building ceramics. 

Royal Delft  produced building ceramics for, among others, the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam and also the Old Post Office in Rotterdam. Displayed over a number of rooms and the courtyard, replicas and examples of building ceramics that were mainly produced in the period between 1880 and 1930 can be seen. The rooms in the Monumental Building are decorated with, among other things, pillars, tile tableaus, ceramic elements and even a fountain. The Staircase really shows off the use of these products.

In the inner courtyard which was a very pleasant place to sit in, and where cafe customers had overspilled into more of the use of the Delft buildings ceramics were on display.

There were cabinets of historical pieces and the Royal Collection all beautifully arranged.  However we had to move on with the group, and told that at the end of the tour we were welcome to return to take time over the exhibits.

Since my spree as Gallery Steward during the Wells exhibition 'Smashed in the Cellar', and understanding how imports from China encouraged British manufacture or copies of these ceramics. I was interested to see how Delft too had followed this route.

 

The Original Chinese plate is on the left dated at around 1700, and the Delft copy on the right dates from around 1760.  Both plates depict in the centre a young man standing on an enclosed terrace, with a pagoda and a vase of flowers. Hibiscus flowers, and leaf shaped medallions surround this, alternating with images of precious objects.

On the factory floor, the production of  the ceramics was explained from mixing the clay using kaolin imported from Cornwall, to the use of moulds, the sponging of the pots to remove mould marks, the firing, stencil application and hand painting or putting on of transfers for the less expensive pieces.  One of their top painters was completely immersed in her work.The guide explained that it took many years to attain this standard, and the hardest part was probably mixing the different hues of blue, which look grey before firing,  and applying them consistently over the artifact.

Below the various stages of achieving the final pot from the imprint of the design via a stencil to firing of the pot which turns the colours blue is shown in these four vases.

After our tour we headed to spend the rest of the day in Delft.  From the coach park it was a very pleasant walk to the centre of the old City.  The layout and architecture was stunning, and we had hardly time to cover it, and several days would have been needed, so hopefully we shall have the opportunity for another visit.

We soon settled on where to get a bite to eat, sitting outside under plane trees with their leaves just emerging on this gorgeous spring day. How did we choose this place, well we just saw that it was well frequented with locals who were eating mainly a great looking 'sandwich'. I really do recommend 

BAR S on the Beestenmarkt in Delft.  The service was very friendly and when complimenting the waitress on the Dutch Apple Cake, she was delighted and said that she made them, and this one was baked that morning and even shared the recipe with me!

As I researched on the web regarding Dutch Food I came across an excellent site with a good Dutch Apple Pie Recipe. This time in a City we decided to walk around taking in the views and the atmosphere.  As I have a great interest in baking this beautiful bakery on a street corner was one of the best I had seen on this holiday.  I only wish we had stocked up on goodies for our onward journey. Maybe it was because we were not at all hungry after that delicious lunch, that I did not pick up a selection of the delicacies displayed in their windows.

Kaas Broodje at The Diamond Ring City Bakery

'City Bakery The Diamond Ring is located at Choorstraat in Delft. This building , which once Balthazar Geraerds slept in the night before he killed William of Orange , the tastiest specialties are now in the early morning every day handicraft . Come smell, see and taste all our goodies and be convinced by the craftsmanship of your artisan baker !'

The canals and streets around them were delightful to explore,

The largest square in Delft is quite something with two prestigious buidlings The New Church where William of Orange is buried, and The Town Hall at the other. 

 

Delf is the home town of many great Dutch artists, one of which they witty postcards celebrate.

We had time to have an unscheduled stop in Rotterdam with a pleasant walk along a waterfront. 

This was a delightful holiday which we shall long remember.

Other posts for this holiday 

Holiday to Holland First day at Keukenhof Gardens

Holiday to Holland - Second Day Utrecht

Holiday to Holland - Visits to Het Loo Palace and The Netherlands Open Air Museum - A very full Third Day