Delft: Porcelain: William of Orange

Between the rain storms we fit a lot into this day in Delft.  Delft's canals are smaller than Amsterdam's and instead of forming concentric circles, form much more of a grid.  The canals were initially built to channelize the swampland creating dry places to live, to provide defensive barriers, and to provide a mode of transportation for the goods (primarily beer and textiles) being produced.  And, while some goods are still moved on the canals, and the canals continue to drain this otherwise swampy ground, today they are primarily used to move tourists.  Today Sandy and I rode a canal boat around the old city and then out to the Royal Delft plant. 

This morning's view of the canals outside our hotel window. 

 Note how one canal intersects with the other, like a street corner.

Looking straight down the canal at that leaning Old Church tower

The skipper and tour guide on our canal boat.  Also an engineering student at Technische Universitiet Delft (Delft University of Technology)

The Royal Delft Company is the maker of the famous blue Delft Porcelain.  The plant uses both technology and detailed handcrafting to produce the beautiful and expensive tableware (and other porcelain objects).  The history of this type of pottery was explained in a well designed and intelligent museum.  We walked through the plant, but since today is Sunday,  noone was working. The plant is open to observers like us, even when it is in full operation.  Of course, at the end of the tour there is a chance to restock your dining room with a new set of Delft tableware.

Without this logo it is not Delft

The "Night Watch" (Rembrandt) reproduced in Delft tiles

The phases of Delft porcelain: not painted, paint looks black, dries to blue

Delft has a shuttle service that is more like a golf cart than anything else.  We took that back to the old town.  Cold and wet, another trip to the Chocolate Shop for hot chocolate and a treat.

Hot Chocolate with chili powder, warms you up!

William of Orange, also known as William the Silent led the Dutch in their fight for the independence of the lowland provinces which are now comprise primarily the Netherlands and Belgium.  Having a Spanish bounty on his head, William made his headquarters in a Delft convent, now the Prinsenhof Museum.  While there and just before Dutch Independence was achieved, he was assassinated in the convent by a man hoping to collect the bounty that the Spanish had put on Williams head.  The Prinsenhof is now a museum with extensive information about the Golden Age of Delft and of the life, and death, of William, Prince of Orange. (William the Silent)

Silhouettes of William and his assassin exactly where he was killed

Ominously William was the first public personality ever 

assassinated with a handgun. This is it.

William and wife