Tuesday 1 February 2011

The Light of Delft

A wonderful blue sky, last Saturday was the perfect Winter day to go out, to have a stroll and...to enjoy a day full of light. :-)

From Delft


We went to Delft to celebrate this beautiful day with the great Dutch Golden Age (17th century) light "photographer", Vermeer, the painter of light, who was born and lived in Delft all his life.

Before arriving to Vermeer Centre, we stopped by the main city's square and took these shots of the Nieuwe Kerk, where since William, the Silent, the princes of Orange are buried.

Opposite to this church is the Stadhuis or City Hall, a Renaissance style building, the former seat of the city's government, and still the place where residents hold their civic wedding ceremonies.

From Delft


From the main square (Markt), we can reach the church where Vermeer is buried, the Oude Kerk...

From Delft


and the Roman-Catholic Gothic church of the city, Maria van Jessekerk.

From Delft


After visiting the Vermeer Centre, we went to the Stadscafe De Waag (City Cafe The Weigh House)

From Delft


where a 1647 scale can yet be seen.

From Delft


We asked for typical Dutch hapjes (in Portuguese "petiscos"): bitterballen and kaas (cheese).

From Delft


Finally, a last walk to enjoy Delft by night...:-)

De Stadhuis (The City Hall)

From Delft


Royal Makkum & Delftware store

From Delft


A store of the 18th century

From Delft


De Oude Kerk (The Old Church)

From Delft


Entre Aspas, Criatura da Noite

12 comments:

Unknown said...

I love Delft, there's so much to see there, so much history... and there's Vermeer. I went last year with a friend, and we had such a nice time. I have to go back to visit the Vermeer museum.
Great pictures, it sounds like the perfect way to spend a day out.

Presépio no Canal said...

@Aledys: Initially, we had other plans, to stay at home and doing some improvements here, but it would be a pitty not enjoy the light, after so many cloudy days.

Margarida Elias said...

Gostei muito do post. Aprecio bastante este tipo de casas do Norte da Europa (fizeram-me lembrar as que vi na Alemanha) e achei que os petiscos tinham um aspecto delicioso...:) Bj!

Presépio no Canal said...

@ Margarida, foram as melhores bitterballen que comi ate hoje. Acabei por pedir uma segunda dose, desta vez sem o queijo a acompanhar.
Decidi ir a Delft, apos a nossa conversa por mail ;-)
E tu tambem foste ;-) Daqui a uns dias, ja entenderas porque te digo isto.
Bjs!

Sara said...

Estive em Delft em 2004, durante uma bela manhã de Setembro, com um bonito sol. O passeio não foi longo, mas lembro-me bem da praça com as duas igrejas, uma em frente à outra (a minha memória não me está a trair, ou estará?) e aquelas várias lojas a abarrotar de porcelana azul.
Que bom lembrar tempos bem passados! ;)
Beijinhos

Presépio no Canal said...

@Sara, de facto as igrejas sao proximas, mas o edificio em frente a Igreja (Nieuwe Kerk) e a Camara (Stadhuis). Tiveste sol, que maravilha ;-) Isso foi um presente! ;-)

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

You always bring me such magic, Sandra! GREAT PHOTOS! Anita

Presépio no Canal said...

@Thanks, Anita :-) :-) You too, you too!!
;-)
Bjs! :-)

ana said...

Muito bonito o post!
Tenho que visitar Delft por causa de Vermeer que gosto tanto!
Bejinhos! :)

Presépio no Canal said...

@Ana, sem duvida, uma cidade a visitar :-)
Beijinhos!! :-)

Pinay in Dutchland said...

Sandra, its been a while. I changed my blog (yet again) that's why your posts doesnt show up anymore.

Anyway, I agree, Delft is beautiful. A friend of ours live there and we always look forward to walking around town with them. Oh you didnt visit a Delft blue shop? There's one behind the old church, one of the remaining original Delft Blue makers. Unfortunately, their crafts cost a lot.

Hope the start of your year is going great.

Groets,
The Weekend Traveller
(former PinayinDutchland)
www.theweekendtraveller.com

Presépio no Canal said...

Hello, Pinay :-)

So glad to hear from you!!
We were at Delft Blue shops in our previous visits to Delft. As you say, everything so expensive! ;-)
I will see your new blog. I like its name :-)

See you soon! :-)

Beijinhos!