Last spring we paid a short visit to the town of Delft, in south Holland. Although we could have stayed longer, the town’s narrow, canal-lined streets were easy to stroll around in just a few hours.
Here are some of my favourite photographs from the trip.
Delft dates from the 11th century, and is full of olde-worlde charm.
There’s a real buzz to the town on market days (Thursdays and Saturdays), with busy canalside cafes and restaurants full of visitors and locals. The market takes place in the ‘Markt’, or the town square, in the shadow of the grand Stadhuis (town hall).
In the spring and summer, an antiques market lines up along the side of the canals in the town centre, with everything from quirky paintings to brass ornaments on sale.
Delft is the birthplace of artist Johannes Vermeer, who painted Girl with a Pearl Earring. If we’d had longer there, we’d have paid a visit to the Vermeer Centrum Delft, which gives a glimpse of his studio, and of what it would have been like for the artist, living in 17th Century Holland.
If you’re looking for tradition, in Delft it’s everywhere, from the imposing Niewe Kerke to the wrought-iron street lamps, and the street organs piping out merry tunes.
Delft is home of the distinctive blue-and-white Delft pottery, developed in the 17th Century from Chinese influences. If there’s room in your car, you can pick some up in one of the town’s many workshops and studios.
Make sure you leave some space for cheese, too. Much of it comes from neighbouring Gouda (which you can read about here).
Like the rest of south Holland (which I’ve posted about here), we found Delft to be a relaxed, enjoyable, child-friendly place. Hopefully we’ll return one day.
If you like this, you might also enjoy:
A week at Strandpark Vlugtenburg, south Holland
Six stops on a south Holland road trip
A morning at Gouda cheese market
Windmills at Kinderdijk, near Rotterdam in Holland
Music boxes and Old Masters at the Mauritshuis Museum, the Hague
Family fun at Duinrell Wassenaar
A morning at Gouda cheese market
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The photographs are amazing.I hope you had a great time there.
Love,
Joanna
https://mightyessays.com/
Author
Thanks. We loved it!
such a pretty town!
Author
It is indeed.
Wow, it looks so beautiful! And actually it has made me realise how little I know about Holland as a country. I’ve visited twice and didn’t stay anywhere that looked so traditional as Delft. Time for another visit I think!
Nat.x
Author
It was like bottled heritage! A gorgeous place.
Delft really is a beautiful city. I have not been there since I was a student in Leiden. I reckon it’s time to return.
Author
Ooh – how long did you study in Leiden? I love that part of the world. I’d like to spend a big tranche of time there at some point.
There is certainly something that is quite ‘storybook’ about Holland, isn’t there? Love the photos!
Author
Thank you!
This looks absolutely beautiful! It certainly makes me want to travel. It looks almost magical.
There!
Thanks for sharing x
Author
It did feel like a very special place!