Netherlands
Gemeente Midden-Delfland

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    • Day 6

      Mittagspause in Maassluis

      September 2, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      Man würde Maassluis wahrscheinlich niemals erwähnen, so klein und unscheinbar entwickelt sich die Stadt zwischen Den Haag und Rotterdam, wenn nicht genau hier die vielen notwendigen Schleusen der Kanäle und Wasserstraßen wären.

      Maassluis besitzt Wasser, reichlich Wasser, kaum mehr als 33.000 Einwohner und eine ansprechende Altstadt. Seit 1367 ist Maassluis für sein "Schiffe schleppen" weltberühmt. Wer ins Landesinnere der Niederlande reisen wollte oder wieder zurück in den Häfen Den Haags oder Rotterdam oder hinaus auf die Weltmeere musste und muss noch heute durch das Schleusensystem bei Maassluis hindurch.

      Wir haben inzwischen Hunger, folgen einem Tipp von Tripadvisor und kehren im „Monsieur Paul“ ein. Wir sitzen ganz gemütlich auf einem umgebauten Boot auf dem Kanal, mitten in der Altstadt bei typisch holländischer Aussicht. Es ist chillig eingerichtet, der Service zuvorkommend und freundlich, das Essen ausgesprochen lecker und preiswert. So geht Urlaub!
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    • Day 58

      Delightful Delft

      November 10, 2022 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      On the advice of the receptionist we headed towards the centre of Delft as there is a market every Thursday of food and other stuff! It was about a 10 minute stroll into the Centrum. We passed so many beautiful houses and canals, the place has a real “fairytale” feel about it. There is a beautifully maintained city hall and a number of churches scattered about as well. In the marketplace we came upon a lovely store where they hand paint most of their products. I bought a couple of beautiful Christmas decorations and a small vase.

      After our retail therapy session we wandered around the market a bit, but decided we needed to find a restaurant for lunch as we both were feeling hungry after our early start and small breakfast. We found a lovely place called Het Konings Huys (House of the King) where Brigitte had a steak and chips and I had fish and chips with salad and we had a lovely bottle of Malbec with the meal.

      After lunch we wandered around the market a bit more, I got some delicious liquorice and then we went to a cheese man where we were able to try some delicious cheeses. Brigitte ended up buying over 3 kilos of cheese and it is all absolutely delicious. The other food item Brigitte gets from Holland is their strope waffles which are a couple of flat waffles with sugar syrup in the middle, very nice but need to eat in moderation.

      There was a very talented busker performing at the market, he had a wonderful voice, I could have stayed and listened to him for ever. We continued wandering around the lovely narrow streets, crossing over quaint bridges and enjoying the sites. Our last stop was at De Candelaar & De Blauwe Tulp Pottery where I bought a pendant and met the artist who painted it.

      We then headed back to the hotel to have a bit of down time.
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    • Day 26

      Maria van Jessekerk, Delft

      April 19, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

      We managed to visit one more church before calling it a day (of course we did). The Maria van Jessekerk is the inner city church of the Ursula parish and has the longest history. Where the priestly choir is now, there was already a Roman Catholic church in 1733. The church was designed by Everard Margry, pupil of the well-known architect Pierre Cuypers and Margry has paid a lot of attention to details. For example, the left tower resembles that of the New Church, while the design for the right tower is derived from that of the Oude Kerk.

      Inside this church is very different to the old and the new church we visited earlier today. The walls are covered with beautiful coloured murals, the stained glass windows sparkle from all sides, the ancient pulpit and altarpiece, icons and the Maarschalkerweerd organ are so detailed and interesting. It is a rich tapestry of light and colour and we were so glad we popped in to check it out.

      We have spent a wonderful day exploring Delft and its beautiful laneways and canals but we’re happy to call it a day as the wind picked up and the weather turned colder.
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    • Day 26

      Beestenmarkt, Delft

      April 19, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

      The church itself is situated in the main square in Delft, Markt. At the opposite end of the church is the stunning City Hall. This building is breathtaking, as everywhere you looked there was something more to see and admire, another angle to photograph, another feature to be impressed by. With the church at one end and City Hall at the other, it is easy to see why this is the main square. There was so much to look at.

      Brad needed a breather after his strenuous climb so we made our way to the nearby Beestenmarkt, a beautiful square filled with bars and restaurants, and the perfect place to stop and enjoy our surroundings. It was so enjoyable being sat in the sunshine enjoying an antipasto platter with a local wine for me and beer for Brad. This is one of the things we love about travelling - the down time to sit back and people watch and just enjoy our surroundings. It has been a bit hard to do that too much so far on this trip due to the cold weather but hopefully as it gets warmer we will have more and more of these days.
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    • Day 27

      Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles, Delft

      April 20, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

      Today we visited the Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles which translates to The Porcelain Jar, and is also known as the Royal Delft factory. Founded in 1635, it is the last remaining active earthenware factory of the original thirty-two factories that operated in Delft during the 17th century. Delftware production has been in continuous operation here for over 350 years with the story of Royal Delft dating back to the year 1653 when the production of the unique Delft Blue earthenware began in the Netherlands. It was inspired by blue painted porcelain brought back from China which was unique and never seen before in Europe. So began a love affair for the Dutch and the Delft Blue porcelain.

      Nowadays, antique collectors recognize that delftware produced by De Porceleyne Fles, (also known as Royal Delft) is the gold standard in delftware. The earthenware produced at Koninkliike Porceleyne Fles is individually coded with a factory mark, item number, artist's initials, a date code, and even a certificate of authenticity.

      Visiting the factory was such an interesting and informative visit and the way the information is presented is engaging. We got to walk through the factory and see the process of creating these beautiful pieces. It so understandable why each piece is so expensive. I fell in love with the porcelain houses but at €245 each, I had to make do with some cheaper replicas.

      Also on display in the Royal Delft Factory was an art display called Flowers in Blue by Bas Meeuws, a digital artist who created stunning pieces on acrylic of gorgeous floral arrangements in the beautiful Delftware vases. The colours were so vibrant and the pieces of art were stunning. It is fantastic seeing artists being featured in the historic places in Delft, such a contrast between old and new. Delft certainly sets the standard when it comes to amalgamation between history and our modern era. It has really impressed us.
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    • Day 10

      9. Tag: Campingplatz

      September 7, 2022 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

      Um 12 Uhr ging es heute Morgen für uns weiter. Nach ca. 40 Minuten Fahrt und einem Einkauf, sind wir dann an dem Campingplatz angekommen, wo wir die nächsten 7 Tage bleiben werden. Diesen hatte wir schon vorher in der App von unser Campingcard gefunden und reserviert. Mit 22 Euro die Nacht der teuerste unserer Campingplätze, aber uns war hier wichtig, dass er eine gut Anbindung an die anliegende Städte hat und Bademöglichkeiten besitzt. Sowohl ein Schwimmbad als auch ein See sind in unmittelbarer Nähe und der Bus fährt direkt vor der Tür.
      Wir haben einen schönen Platz im hinteren Teil des Campingplatzes bekommen. Fahrräder auszuleihen kostet 9,50 Euro pro Tag, Wäsche waschen 7,50 Euro (somit deutlich teuerer als normal) und trocknen 3,50 Euro. Einen kleinen Einkaufsladen besitzt der Campingplatz auch, somit sind wir also bestens ausgestattet für die nächste Woche.
      Wirklich viel außer der Aufbau unseres Campes, als auch das erkunden des Campingplatzes wird heute nicht passieren. Es gab Blätterteigpizza (übrings sehr empfehlenswert und einfach zu machen) und selbstgemachten Sangria (die Flasche dafür haben wir in Haarlem gekauft).
      Heute Abend wird es bestimmt eine Revanche in Skip-bo geben und wir lassen den Abend gemütlich ausklingen. Die Wettervorhersage bis Sonntag sieht nicht besonders rosig aus. Mal sehen… Wir werden das Beste aus der Situation machen.
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    • Day 26

      Oude Kerk (Old Church), Delft

      April 19, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

      Thankfully the sun was shining this morning so we hit the streets to see as much as we can before the rain starts again. First up this morning we visited the Oude Kerk, the Old Church, founded in 1246 and located in the old city center of Delft. Nicknamed Oude Jan (Old John) and Scheve Jan (Skewed John), it is a Gothic Protestant church most famous for its seventy-five meter high leaning tower and is the oldest church in Delft. In 1654, the church windows were destroyed when a nearby gunpowder depot exploded in the city.

      The thing we love with these old churches is how unique they all are, the history, and amazing architecture, the ancient artworks, and so much more. What is striking about this church is how unadorned the walls and ceilings are, with its plain white walls and wooden ceiling giving the church an expansive and empty feel. The floor is scattered with old tomb markings. It actually feels quite serene in its “plainness”. Against the plain walls the twenty-seven stained glass windows and three pipe organs are striking. The church organs date back to the years 1857 (main organ), 1873 (north aisle) and 1770 (choir). One of the two bells, the Trinitas bell, weighs almost nine-thousand kilograms and has a diameter of just over two meters, and is the largest and oldest tolling bell in the Netherlands.

      Due to its potentially damaging vibrations, the bell is only rung on rare occasions. Historically, the bell has sounded to announce disasters. Approximately four-hundred people are entombed in the Oude Kerk. Among them are the famous painter, Johannes Vermeer, and the inventor of the microscope, Anthony van Leeuwenhoek.

      What is unique here is how the city of Delft displays the history of this church, allowing tourists to learn about the history in an interesting and engaging way. It was a great start to our first full day in Delft.
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    • Day 1

      Amazon traffic jams & epic bike stores.

      August 17, 2022 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

      Stupidly early flight coupled with easyJet sending an email warning of delays meant an early morning / late night start. Squeezed in the car - a Jumbo bike box meant seats were as far forward as possible. Thankfully Liz was the hero on both counts getting up at stupid o'clock & driving. Rain on the way didn't bode well. Also a bit jittery about the sheer quantity of stuff crammed in the bike box - official guidance states nothing but a bike. Banked on the taped up box and queues discouraging investigation as has been the case previously & so it proved. Security negotiated relatively painlessly. Similar leg room on the flight to the car but at least I had an aisle seat. Struggled to stay awake though turbulence helped. My first experience of Brexit tourism didn't help my mood - look at what you could've won - EU passports sailing through the automatic booths and massive queues for the stupid.
      Once done, Bike was there ready to be assembled. Minor panic when my pump exploded - nothing a bit of gaffer tape couldn't botch tho. By the time I'd assembled the bike the rain that followed me had passed. Just the small matter of cycling through the midst of an international hub served by numerous motorways. No worries - Holland has it sorted - 20m away from where I was sorting the bike was a superb bike lane that would proceed to guide me off road pretty much all the way to Delft. Even incorporated a lift to access a bridge. Couldn't do anything about the Amazon warehouse - took a while to get past the endless stream of Amazonia departing. Excited to see the first windmill but that quickly dissipated. Loads of windmills but no shops. Eventually found a supermarket at the halfway point in Leiden. Had lunch admiring a particularly historic windmill. For once this was in an urban setting rather than by one of the numerous canals. Pushed on and spits and spots gradually got worse & worse. With 6 miles to go the waterproof was called for. By the hotel all was damp to say the least. Checked in & was directed to the station bike car park. Never have I seen so many bikes - most of which were the Dutch tank like versions. Quick wash, explore Delft. Popped into the Jumbo supermarket - as in Jumbo Visma Cycling - living the high life.
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    • Day 16

      15. Tag: Griechischer Tag

      September 13, 2022 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      Heute war es wieder unspektakulär. Außer das der Hund uns nachts wach gehalten hat, weil sie Bauchschmerzen hatte und 2x raus musste, war der Tag eher entspannt.
      Während Marvin weiter an seiner Hausarbeit schrieb, putzte ich den Camper und packte schonmal das Gröbste zusammen, da wir morgen schon um 10.30 Uhr vom Campingplatz sein müssen.
      Nach getaner Arbeit und ein bisschen Reels schneiden, liefen wir dann wieder nach Delft, um dort den entdeckten Griechen auszuprobieren und einen Cocktail zu trinken.
      Zu unserem Erstaunen war der Grieche echt hervorragend. Für ein Bild hat es nicht gereicht, wir waren einfach zu hungrig.
      Mit vollem Bauch ging’s dann zurück auf dem Campingplatz. Wir schmiedeten noch Pläne für die nächsten Tage. Kurzer Spoiler: es geht morgen nochmal nach Rotterdam und anschließend in Richtung Dortrecht. Und dann sind wir schon fast am Ende unser Reise angekommen.
      Genaueres zu unseren Plänen gibt es dann die Tage. Bis dahin!
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    • Day 26

      Streets of Delft

      April 19, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

      After ticking off our first church for the day we made the most of the unexpected sunshine and strolled the streets of Delft, finding our bearings while oohing and ahhhing over the beautiful and interesting buildings and sights. We passed the only remaining windmill, which was under construction so we did not go in, we wandered down alleys with eye-catching street art, crossed canals with flowers just starting to bloom on the banks and stopped at one of the many Delftware shops in town for a yummy morning tea tart and coffee.Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Gemeente Midden-Delfland, Midden-Delfland, MDF

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