European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Delftware in the form of plates cups saucers vases and miniature dutch houses and shoes fills a shop Delft a its pretty As its pottery by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau mention the dutch City of Delft and full color thoughts turn Blue. The name conjures up images of Blue windmills Blue dutch girls and narrow Blue streets lined with narrower Blue buildings. But there s much More to Delft than the distinctive Blue on White earthenware that made the City famous. One of the oldest and Best preserved towns in the Netherlands the City located about nine Miles Northwest of Rotterdam can Charm even no shoppers with its Long narrow canals picturesque Bridges and rows of handsome Gables lined up like a picket Fence. One travel guide Calls Delft a Quot sheer Delight a perhaps Little town in All of one dutch author describes it As Quot the town of dutch and cozy Delft is. Even though the town hosts its share of camera toting visitors it s a Nice slow paced alternative to the summer crowds and traffic of Amsterdam. The Best Way to see Delta is to Park your car in one of the i it s Long term lots and set out on foot. The quaint Brick and Cobblestone streets Aren t very foot Friendly however so remember comfortable shoes. Delft s tourist information office is a Good first Stop for first time visitors. L located on the town s Market Square it s marked with a Blue and White sign bearing the letters there you can buy a brochure for 2.50 guilders about $1.40 that explains the City s sights and maps out a two hour walking tour. If you can t spare that much time the guide also recommends two Shorter versions. Delft s history dates Back to the 1 3th Century but a fire in 1536 destroyed nearly two thirds of the town s then mostly Wood buildings. Just two churches remain from its earliest Days. Both deserve a visit although both Are closed to the Public on sundays. The Nieuwe Kerk or new Church located on the Market Square across from the tourist office has 16 Large stained Glass windows and the burial vault of the dutch Royal House. For about $1, visitors can also climb the 14th-Century Church s 350-foot-High Tower for a Birds Eye View of the City. The gothic Youcle Kerk or old Church dates to 1 240 and also includes impressive modern stained Glass windows. The 1 7th-Century dutch Painter Johannes Vermeer whose work captured the City s look and spirit is entombed there. Other sights include the i 71h-c entry town Hall building opposite the new Church on the Market Square and the oos poort or East Cate the Only one of the town s eight medieval Gates still standing. You can also visit the Prinsen Hof museum where among other things you la see Bullet holes scarring a staircase Wall where in 1 584 the silent a ailed the father of dutch Unity was assassinated while leading a revolt against Spanish occupation. The museum also displays paintings by Delft masters modern Art tapestries and delftware. For the folks who prefer to View the delftware on their Coffee tables at Home Delft is the place to go. The town has six shops and three factories that specialize in the pottery. Production of delftware began More then 300 years ago when United East Indian co. Ships started bringing chinese porcelain into the country. The intricately decorated porcelain proved to he so popular that local potters feared they d be Tore de out of business unless they Learned to copy the imports by the mid-1 7th entry More than 30 potteries were churning out the hand parted earthenware not on in Delft Blue but also in Oriental looking Del it Blue k Delft Green and a run stir Dolored it bomb Mulman of Green i i i tinned i ill / la a i May 14, vw2 of Nev Magazine j
