Nestled in the province of South Holland, the canal-ringed city of Delft has a special place in my heart. This city not only has a rich history of Dutch culture but is also a nice example of urban frame design. How did I find Delft? About one and a half years ago, while passing by Amsterdam, I saw a pottery shop containing magnificent hand-painted blue and white ceramics (delftware) coming from Delft. At first, I forgot about them right away. But then it just sprang to my mind, so I needed to schedule a visit to Delft. Since it was far from my city, it required some time. I decided to take a walk on a picture-perfect day in fall, hoping to capture the essence of the season. I had not researched anything in advance, only wanted to casually walk around on the weekend without any plans or specific destinations, and therefore could enjoy the atmosphere during fall.
Arriving in Delft, I had no idea where to start or what to look at. However, after two years in the Netherlands, I knew going to the "Centrum," or city center, was a good place to begin, since that is normally where visiting most Dutch cities starts. My first objective was to find the center or main marketplace area in Delft.
Getting around Delft City was easier than expected. The city is well laid out- once you know where a canal or major street is, you are unlikely to get lost. In addition, there's a signboard on practically every corner, so you can't really get lost.
One thing that immediately hit me was how clean and peaceful Delft was. The streets were clean, and not at all crowded, so I had room to just take my time walking around. I strolled along, taking in the charming views across the canals. The architecture and the serenity of the waters combined to create a perfect atmosphere for the day's exploration. The first question that had stroked in my mind was, who lives near this canal? The houses are nice following traditional Dutch architecture.
Delft, Netherlands
The canal water level in Delft is higher (at some spots) than in Amsterdam. I have seen such kind of water-level canal-side streets in Utrecht city. The water is not so clean though. You can go very close the the canal. But it looks risky though. How do they maintain water levels during the rainy season? The answer is still pending to uncover to me. Seeing the photographs, you already have an idea of how the city might look. Are these traditional Dutch houses?
Delft's canal houses show a local variance from the generalized Dutch architecture. Many of the buildings have the same height and narrow, being deep to maximize the space within the compact city layout. The fronts of these houses often boast ornate gables in stepped, bell-shaped, or neck forms that characterize the skyline. Most of these houses are constructed using red or brown brick, while white trims soften the window and door details yet the details look prominent. Normal large, multi-pane windows allow plentiful daylight in and present some canal views.
Another unique feature is that these houses seem to lean forward or sideways, which also goes for many old kinds of Dutch architecture. These canal houses, built centuries ago on marshy land, stand tightly packed together and often share walls with their neighbors.
Along the canals, small bridges connect these homes to narrow streets lined with bikes, trees, and flowers.
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After spending some time near the canal, we followed a prominent street to go to the center area. On my way, I saw some brick buildings following the medieval architectural style. This city is also known for its preserved medieval architecture. After visiting a few medieval cities, I can identify medieval architecture easily. Brick facades and gabled roofs are among the few special elements and characters recognizing medieval-style architecture.
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Delft is a city of history. The most famous painter Johannes Vermeer lived here. Also, delft is called the city of Orange. William of Orange also known as William the Silent.
After reaching the city center, I spotted some famous shops along with other stores. For example, Dille and Kamille is a very popular store among women for household things.
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I discovered a special handmade chocolate shop featuring Delft City. I will write about it another time. Some floral shops and decor shops caught my eye too.
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Maria Van Jessekerk is a Neo-Gothic Roman Catholic church which is originally named St. Joseph's Church. This church was built in phases around 1875-1882. I went inside the church without a ticket or anything and spent some time there while admiring the beautiful inside of the church.
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The East Gate in Delft is the most famous symbol of the city and one of the few examples left in the Netherlands of medieval city gates. This splendid twin-spired structure built about 1400 stands on the eastern edge of Delft overlooking a quiet canal lined with trees and greenery. The East Gate was part of the town's defense walls but had been adapted as both a fortress and an entrance against intruders.
Though no longer a city gate, today the East Gate serves the dual purpose of a private residence and art gallery, integrating historic preservation with present-day use.
This gate is the only remained gate among all the eight gates in the city. The original city gates had to be torn down in 1359 as a punishment since Delft had lost a war against Duke Albert of Bavaria. When William of Orange came to live in Delft in 1572, the entire fortress was reinforced. Around 1840, the other city gates of Delft were pulled down; only the East Gate was allowed to stay because it didn't get in the way in the corner of the city. src
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As I mentioned before, I didn't visit any specific places. I wanted to go to a museum but it was already late. So, on my way exploring the city, whatever landmarks were located, I saw.
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The unfortunate fact is I couldn't see any delftware stores. Even I couldn't visit the Royal Delft Museum because of time schedule. The reason I went to Delft stayed incomplete but no regret. In the end, I explored this charming city, saw history, and architecture, and made a unique experience...
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Priyan...
I am @priyanarc.... An architect, a dreamer, and a passionate writer who loves to write about life. I try to present my own perspective and experiences. Please leave your feedback and criticism because it's the only way I can know and reach your mind and thoughts easily...
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