Delft, Netherlands: Two Churches

We used our Eurail passes to move from Amsterdam to Delft.  It is a short one and quarter hour trip (41 miles) but it feels like a million miles.  Delft is as Dutch as it gets. It is peaceful and lovely. It is the perfect place for us to come following our five days in Amsterdam.  There are several sites to visit and we plan on doing that, but the real thing to see in Delft, is Delft.  Walking along the canals (here you are always walking along the canals) is relaxing as it can get, smelling the stroopwaffles and chocolates which is absolutely intoxicating.  And, the cheese shops, they keep calling me in, over and over and over. 

Upon arriving we walked to our hotel.  (Delft is so small and compact that any in-town hotel would be walkable).  The churches "Old" church and "New", the City Hall and the network of canals attest to Delft's Golden Age wealth.  We visited both the old and new churches.  The old church built 1548 is bright and airy and it was very comfortable inside.  The floor is covered with tombstones as people were actually buried under the floor of the church.  The three most famous tombstones that we found were Anton van Leeuwenhoek, the inventor of the microscope; Piet Hein a major Naval officer in the wars with England; and the star of the show, Johannes Vermeer, the artist (The Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Milkmaid).

It was nice to see the Dutch countryside

We were greeted in Delft with a rainbow.  First thing Sandy said was "Roy G. Biv"

Amsterdam to Delft

We walked the canals down to the Old Church

Canal beside the Church

The Old Church is noticeably tilting.  They keep an eye on it...so far so good.

The Old Church

Vermeer's original tombstone in the floor of the Old Church

Vermeer's fancy new tombstone in the floor of the Old Church.  I have no idea which tombstone covers his bones

After visiting the "Old Church" we walked to the "New Church".  To our surprise we found a carnival taking place in the church square.  It was fun to watch everyday Dutch enjoying their town and its annual carnival.  The New Church, too, had its famous dead guy.  This one, as far as the Dutch are concerned is THE big one, William of Orange, the father of independent Netherlands.  

Hugo Grotius is the founder of international marine law.  Today he is looking over the Bumper Cars

Sarcophagus of William of Orange

It was a cold day and Delft is the Netherlands Chocolate Capital ... Hot Chocolate

Our Dutch chocolate consultant and owner of a great chocolate shop

  Saturday is also a market day in Delft. We picked up a loaf of bread, some cheese and some sausages.  A trip to the grocery store for some beer and we were set for dinner.