Delft, The Netherlands

Delft is one of the most popular cities for tourists to visit in the Netherlands. Typical tourists go for two things here: Delftware factories (which produce the blue and white ceramics named after the town) and Johannes Vermeer, the seventeenth century painter who lived in Delft. We were atypical tourists. The children aren't interested in ceramics or the paintings of others, so we walked along the canals, visited the Market Square, and some churches.

We parked near the train station and walked along a canal towards the Oude Kerk or Old Church.

Canal with Oude Kerk in the distance

The canal had plenty of fancy buildings along it. We saw a gate with the likeness of Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), local scientist who is the father of microbiology.

Gate with van Leeuwenhoek

Further down the street is a more elaborate house.

Fancy digs

Details from the wall

We went into the church (which has its own post) and then walked over to the Markt or Market Square. We saw some more fancy buildings along the way.

Reminds me of Bruges

Impressive lintel

The Market Square is fairly large and lined with the typical tourist shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Market Square shops

More of the square

A place to buy shoe-veniers

The State House of Stadhuis sits in the middle of the market and has a fun, busy exterior made in 1618.

Stadhuis front

Stadhuis side and back

Across the canal behind the state house is the cheese-weighing house which we identified from the decoration.

Nuovo and cheese-weighing house

Close up of the identifier