There are some things the Netherlands is de facto identified and well-known for. Cheese, windmills, tulips and maybe probably the most well-known of all of them Delft Blue. Everybody within the Netherlands is aware of Delft Blue and most grandparents might need some Delft Blue of their residence.
As a result of Delft Blue is commonly discovered at our grandparents residence it has a little bit of a dusty and quaint picture to it. However, it feels as Dutch as will be, so once we acquired invited to come back to the Delft Blue Museum for a guided tour and workshop, I couldn’t be extra curious and enthusiastic.
With out giving an excessive amount of away already, it was such a enjoyable day at Royal Delft!
Historical past of Delft Blue
The historical past of Delft Blue dates again to the 17th century, when there have been about 32 pottery factories positioned in Delft. We all know that elsewhere within the Netherlands equivalent to Amsterdam, Haarlem and Middelburg, pottery was already made within the second half of the 16th century, additionally with multi coloured decors on a white background.
It was presumably not till the top of the 16th century that the primary potteries had been based in Delft.
However how did it turn out to be Delft Blue?
Nicely, firstly, Dutch sailors got here throughout a number of cargos containing Chinese language porcelain and launched them to the Dutch. Secondly, and most significantly, tradesmen with the Dutch East India Firm introduced again massive portions of Chinese language porcelain from the Far East. One of these porcelain, which was adorned in blue on a white background, was very talked-about among the many Dutch, and shortly afterward Dutch potters began to mimic it. We copied what the Chinese language did and made it even greater, who would have thought?!
Within the 19th century there was the downturn of the pottery trade. What as soon as was a large trade with 32 potteries simply in Delft, there was only one manufacturing facility left, De Porceleyne Fles.
Causes for this downfall had been nice competitors from the English Wedgewood porcelain and lack of innovation among the many Delft pottery bakers. In the direction of the top of the 19th century the Porceleyne Fles got here into the fingers of Delft engineer Joost Thooft. His goal was to revive the manufacturing of Delft Blue.
Nicely, he succeeded. He launched then, as what we nonetheless now know as the present trademark. In 1919 the corporate was awarded the predicate ‘royal’.
About Royal Delft
Royal Delft has been creating prime quality Delft Blue since 1653. This age-old craft is handed on from technology to technology and iconic masterpieces are nonetheless made totally by hand in Delft. Along with the traditional items, the gathering additionally consists of up to date decorations.
The Royal Delft Expertise opened in 2012. Need to see how genuine Delft Blue is made? Go to the Royal Delft Museum!
An excellent factor for the Dutch, Royal Delft is an official museum since 2020 and in addition accepts the Museum Card, which implies free entrance! What are you ready for? Begin planning a go to to Delft.
Royal Delft may be very simply accessible with public transport proper in entrance of their museum they usually have non-public parking spots for guests the place you’ll be able to park your automobile totally free.
Museum
The museum is a part of the Royal Delft Expertise and introduces guests to the cultural heritage that’s Delft Blue. They do this by tales, short-term exhibitions but in addition everlasting collections.
2022 Was a giant 12 months as that they had huge building and renovation works occurring within the museum. They’re now totally open and working once more and you’ll clearly inform the museum is the latest a part of Royal Delft. The museum takes you from the sixteenth century to the present time by a logical and straightforward to grasp timeline. It makes your go to to this museum interactive, academic and enjoyable. You may as well go to the museum with an audio tour, which makes it much more interactive and informative.
My private favorites of the museum are the Delft Blue model of the Evening Watch and the total assortment of Delft Blue that was made for our Dutch Royal household. The Delft Blue model of the Evening Watch consists of 480 tiles, so cool!
The factor I actually like about touring Royal Delft is that you just truly stroll by their manufacturing facility. Particularly throughout the week you’ll witness a number of staff and painters truly working right here.
They work 7 days per week, so even throughout the weekends you’ll be able to see them engaged on new Delft Blue merchandise. I assumed it was actually spectacular to see one in all their painters engaged on a vase.
Portray workshop
After strolling by the museum and attending to know the historical past of Delft Blue, we had been fairly excited for the workshop we had deliberate. It’s enjoyable to find out about Delft Blue and see the way it’s made, however what’s extra enjoyable than doing it your self?
There are three completely different sorts of workshops you’ll be able to select from. The tile portray workshop, the plate portray workshop and the DIY portray workshop.
Select a tile or plate and uncover the craft of Delft Blue portray your self. Workshops happen each Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
We did the tile portray workshop to create our personal and distinctive Delft Blue tile. We aren’t tremendous artistic, however fortunately Royal Delft had us coated with a variety of designs. After all for all tremendous creatives you can too create your individual design. Precisely one week after our workshop we obtained our tiles, delivered at residence. We’re tremendous glad and happy with the outcome, our tiles will get a pleasant place in our residence.
Do you know that Delft Blue is painted with black paint? I actually didn’t know this and was tremendous shocked once I heard about this. However sure, it’s painted with black paint which turns blue when fired.
Your personal tile or plate is able to be collected after about 5-12 workdays. It may be collected at Royal Delft or they will ship it to your private home tackle. Transport prices should not included within the workshop value.
With the tile and plate portray workshops the standard black paint is used. You may as well do the DIY portray workshop. This workshop differs from the common workshop as a result of blue paint is getting used on this workshop. This makes it potential to take your tile residence straight on the finish of the workshop.
Costs for these workshops vary from €29,50 to €47,50.
Excessive Tea
A go to to Royal Delft will be as lengthy or temporary as you want. You possibly can simply go to the museum and manufacturing facility with the audio tour or make it a full day with further actions such because the portray workshop and a excessive tea.
After touring the museum and the manufacturing facility and after we gave it our all on the tile portray workshop we had been a bit hungry. Fortunately we had an actual Delft Blue excessive tea ready for us. An etagere stuffed with scrumptious meals was able to be loved. Recent scones with clotted cream and jam, varied muffins, petit fours, sandwiches, sizzling snacks, soup and naturally limitless tea are included on this excessive tea. After which all of this, how might or not it’s another method, on Delft Blue tableware, good!
Brasserie 1653
Brasserie 1653 will be visited even with out admission to the museum. It’s your house to go for lunch or a really good excessive tea. The lunchroom has gorgeous views overlooking the monumental courtyard backyard which is accessible all 12 months spherical and in addition has a terrace throughout the summer season months.
To create their scrumptious salads and sandwiches they use native merchandise as a lot as potential. After all every part is served from their very own Delft Blue tableware.
Memento & Delft Blue store
After you have got skilled the museum and the manufacturing facility you stroll by the memento and Delft Blue store to the exit. So earlier than you allow, be certain to take a look at the store and take residence a beautiful reminiscence. Delft Blue is design and high quality and all of it’s handmade and hand painted and subsequently it’s not low-cost.
Evaluate Royal Delft
We didn’t actually know what to anticipate once we drove all the way in which to Delft for our go to to Royal Delft. Nonetheless, we ended up spending a full afternoon at Royal Delft having an incredible time. All of the lights had been already off and the shutters already down once we lastly walked exterior.
I can see why so many individuals from overseas go to Delft purely for Delft Blue and Royal Delft. The renovation and renewal in 2022 has given their museum an absolute improve. They’ve extra plans of constructing the total Royal Delft expertise extra trendy and future proof. We acquired a bit of perception into their concepts about this and to be sincere, I want I might already expertise it.
Whoever stated Delft Blue is quaint and for grandparents solely, has clearly by no means visited Royal Delft. Listening to their story, studying in regards to the historical past, truly seeing them at work within the manufacturing facility and giving portray a go ourselves, Delft Blue is artwork, it’s a craft and it’s far more than simply that good memento from the Netherlands.
We want to thank Royal Delft and Didi van Dalen for the invitation to their museum and for internet hosting us. We had such a enjoyable day visiting the museum, creating our personal Delft Blue tile and having fun with a really scrumptious excessive tea, a wonderfully organized go to!
This weblog was written by journey author and Traveltomtom group member Ashley. She was invited to go to the Royal Delft Museum  and expertise their museum, workshop and excessive tea and wrote this blogpost about her experiences.
Take pleasure in your journey to Delft!
