Blogs from Delft, South Holland, Netherlands, Europe

This morning I was up early to catch the morning light. It was a soft pale blue fading into a pastel pink. Two guys were craning a long timber boat onto the slipway opposite us, and pretty soon were scraping and power cleaning the hull before lowering it back into its mooring. An hour later and the lake was glistening. The water mirrors the shoreline, as large black birds glide across the sky, occasionally swooping downwards towards the water. The only sound is the young T-shirt clad workman getting an early start across the lake, and the hum of our refrigerator. Looking around our compact house, I’ve noticed subtle differences between the lights and furniture compared to home, and while we all might go to IKEA, and like their products or not, here we are virtually ... read more

I am starting this blog the day before we set off on our family holiday to Delft. We are an extended family, travelling together, to a city in South Holland, which we all know and love, having been there two years ago. We are a retired couple with a motor home and will will travel to Harwich tomorrow, to sail at night, waking up in The Hook of Holland on Thursday morning. Other family members joining us are Marcus, our eldest son, with his wife Sara and our grandchildren Jacob and Becky, they are traveling in their own car and look forward to sleeping in their new tent. Danny, our younger son will join us too with wife Claire and daughter Phoebe, they are also "tenting". We had tropical weather two years ago and would like ... read more

Saturday is a big day for open air markets in the Netherlands; generally in their Markt Squares. (In Texas we call these markets "flea markets".) Here in Delft their Markt is by their Nieuwe Kerk, that is easy to see in the distance. I had a nice walk to the market filled with lots of vendors selling a lot of different products. I did purchase some cooked hot chicken; and my main purchase was from a large selection of dehydrated fruits that I could eat anytime. (Note: there are many good restaurants in the Netherlands. Since I was uncertain how my money would hold out in my five weeks in my 2017 visit, this was an affordable option for me.) The Delft Markt was so very large, it continued by a nice canal outside the Marktplein. ... read more

I took a morning train to Delft; then checked into Hotel Coen. I started on my enjoyable walk to Oude Kerk (Old Church) and passed the nearby Old Delft Station. It was a beautiful day as I walked by very nice canals lined with nice row houses. From the distance it looked like the Oude Kerk tower had a lean towards the canal. The outside and inside of Oude Kerk were impressive with large stained glass windows and other neat features including the large tower that dominates the skyline of Delft. (This is much like other fine old churches in this general area in Northern Europe.) I took my time walking inside this fine old church with a large pipe organ, high ceilings, and nice large stained glass windows. According to Wikipedia, this church was founded ... read more

I had a good long day starting in Utrecht, then taking a train to Delft. After a very nice walk through Delft, I wanted a nice even in my room at the Hotel Delft. Delft is known for its good ceramic products with very nice blue art on their products. The ceramics in my hotel had good Delft art, including the most beautiful toilet I have ever seen. (Later I purchased some Delft ceramic products at their Markt.) Unlike the locked windows in the hotels in the USA, my hotel room had a large window that opened, letting in the cool evening air. Sitting and relaxing by the window I saw the moon looking like it was setting over the Old Delft Station. The Old Delft Station was in operation from 1885 through 2015; and was ... read more