Netherlands
Oude Kerk

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    • Day 27

      Delightful Delft

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

      We spent the afternoon enjoying the laneways and alleyways of Delft, with their interesting buildings, lovely canals and beautiful spaces, cafes and restaurants. Delft is such a pretty town and has definitely won us over.

      We went to a cafe next door to where we are staying for a late lunch and a couple of drinks. It was such a cool cafe with such a relaxing feel. It was a nice place to relax for the afternoon.

      After an afternoon siesta we decided to venture out again to find one of the cool cafes for dinner and a drink. With the clear skies and late sunset we thought it would be the perfect way to end our time here in Delft. What we didn’t count on was the bitterly cold wind, slow service and not so great food. I think we will choose to remember all the good things Delft had to offer and forget this experience.

      Delft is such a beautiful town and just the right size for us. We have loved our time here and are sad to be leaving so soon.
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    • Day 25

      Delft, Netherlands

      April 18, 2023 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

      Today’s destination is Delft, a canal-ringed city in the western Netherlands, known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, hand-painted blue-and-white pottery. In its old town, the medieval Oude Kerk is the burial site of native son and Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer. Once the seat of the royal House of Orange, the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk houses the family's tombs and overlooks Delft's lively market square.

      After our time in Amsterdam, Delft is delightfully small, pretty and charming. First stop while we waited to check in was to enjoy a very delicious lunch in one of the many enticing restaurants in town. I had a mouth watering bagel with brie, pumpkin cream and watercress and Brad tried the crab croquettes which were served on slabs of brown bread. A nice start to our stay here.

      Our home for the next three nights is an apartment above a restaurant in a 16th century building. It is one of the nicest apartments we have stayed in so far, even though it did feel funny having a key for the restaurant as that was our front door. While the stairs were a bit steep, the view from our apartment is amazing. We are going to enjoy our time here.

      While I chose to stay in and rest up (Covid has really knocked me about), Brad did an evening stroll to explore our area and I an hoping tomorrow I will be ready to see and enjoy all Delft has to offer.
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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 6

      Delft

      February 15 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

      We headed out into the early morning rain in Rotterdam, and decided on a tram to the station over being soaked! A relatively short hop saw us unto Delft, a quintessially beautiful Dutch town, more reminiscent of Ypres with canals than the urban sprawl of Rotterdam. We meandered canalside to the leaning church and the windmill, before heading to the Royal Delft museum via the market square and Oostpoort. The museum was well worth a visit, exploring the history of Delft blue pottery and some beautiful items. The Picasso exhibit wasn't terribly exciting but that's likely more personal preference than anything else. We rounded off Delft in the Delft Brouwhuis for a flight of local beers, before hopping on a train to Leidan.

      Oh...and everyone goes everywhere on bicycles in the Netherlands!!
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