If You Love Blue and White...

 

It's no secret to those who know me that blue is my favourite colour. Blues of many shades fill the rooms of my home. I've admired blue and white Delftware for many years, so the Dutch city of Delft with the one remaining porcelain factory was on my list of places to visit. We were able to tour the Royal Delft factory and see people at work creating the special pieces by hand.

The little village buildings I brought home were designed in Holland, but not made there. I chose a Klompen (shoe store), Rembrandt's house, a chocolate shop, and a florist shop. They sit on my kitchen windowsill and remind me of a rainy day visit to Delft. 

Delftware was inspired by Chinese porcelain and it took many years for Europeans to be able to replicate the porcelain successfully. The Royal Delft museum displays some beautiful examples of early porcelain. 

Rembrandt's Night Watch is an enormous painting (12 x 14 feet) and is replicated in the Royal Delft Museum in 480 hand-painted tiles. It's in shades of blue and white which my camera did not capture well. Two artists worked for two years to complete the piece. 

Nijntje is the name of a little bunny who is featured in picture books and toys in The Netherlands. We have one little book in Dutch here at home where Nijntje, known in English as Miffy, shows off her toys. The Royal Delft factory had some adorable pieces featuring the bunny. 

Outside, a porcelain Proud Mary figure gives homage to one of the greatest promoters of Delft porcelain during the Dutch Golden Age, Mary II, daughter of Charles I of England, became Princess of Orange when she married William of Orange. Mary loved the blue and white porcelain and her love of it increased its popularity. William and Mary were offered the throne of England after James II died, and Mary took along her collection of Delft pottery, some of which can still be seen at Hampton Court Palace. 

In the centre of Delft a very large square has hosted markets and public events since the 12th century. One of the oldest shops is an apothecary shop where you can choose from a dizzying array of licorice flavours in addition to regular drugstore items. Many of the buildings in Delft were destroyed by a gunpowder explosion in 1654. This building dates from 1759. 

At one end of the square is the New Church, whose tower stretches high into the sky. Completed in 1436, the church contains the crypt where members of the ruling House of Orange are interred. 

We took refuge from the rain and ate our lunch at a restaurant patio (tented) on the square. I ordered a Dutch tradition "bitterballen," croquettes filled with a meat paste. The outside crunch was delicious and the meat paste a wee bit overwhelming after eating one or two bitterballen. They were good with mustard and pickles. 

As we ate, the church bells began ringing out Wagner's Bridal Chorus, also known as "Here Comes the Bride." Sure enough a small party of people crossed the square, in the rain, to the City Hall at the opposite side of the square. 

A sign on the City Hall doors indicated that a wedding party would be happening there. The bride wore a beautiful white pantsuit in place of a dress. 

As we left the square we noticed this wedding car decorated with flowers waiting for the happy couple. I wonder what their connection with Italy was?

Shelves full of cheeses adorned many stores. I do love a good Gouda cheese, do you? Fortunately, authentic Gouda cheese is imported into Canada for our enjoyment. 

I'll leave you with one last photo of beautiful Royal Delft porcelain, this design featuring the interwoven W and M for William and Mary.