Pearl Art Craft

Delft: Vermeer and porcelain in quaint Dutch city

Meandering up and down countless bridges that stretch over canals, and past storefronts and slender houses, the quaint Dutch life sets in.

It's this life — with its scenes of domesticity, milkmaids, and yes, that girl with the pearl earring — that the famed Dutch master so cherished during his lifetime in the city in the 1600s. And it's one that comes alive for anyone who visits this city of about 100,000 people even centuries after Vermeer's time.

Granted, Delft is often overlooked as a tourist destination considering its larger, more cosmopolitan neighbors: Amsterdam is an hour by train and Den Haag (The Hague), some 25 minutes.

But quaint does have a place and a time — and Delft exemplifies it. From the famed blue-and-white Royal Delft porcelain factory, to old Gothic churches, streets bordered by canals, and miles of bicycle paths, Delft is an ideal stop in the Netherlands. It's also close enough for daytrips to Den Haag to visit the M.C. Escher Museum and, if you're there in the spring, to see the famed tulips at Keukenhof.

Here are highlights:

ROYAL DELFT: Delft, the town, is synonymous with Royal Delft. An entire industry of so-called Delftware began in the 17th century (during Vermeer's time) but just this one factory remains today. It's open for tours and even offers would-be painters the chance to get a feel for the craft through workshops. Visitors get a thorough look at the history of the porcelain and watch it in the present-day too by seeing any of the factory's seven painters or handful of artisans who make the pottery. There's also a café and a shop where you can buy Delftware. Workshops must be booked in advance and start at $21 (14.5 euros), which does not include the pottery. Regular entry is $11.50 (8 euros). Skip the guided audio tour; there's plenty of information on the walls and in pamphlets, http://www.royaldelft.nl/ .

Hollywood Craft Mafia News: Pearl Art and Craft Supply

Pearl is also a great place to host or attend a workshop. The Hollywood Craft Mafia hosted our Etsy Crafty Party there, and more recently, the Fast and Dirty Fabric Printing Workshop. Check with the customer service desk for more info, and be sure to stop by the DIY table Saturday at Odd Duck. There will be a Pearl employee there to help you with your DIY craft and answer any questions you may have about my favorite art & craft supply store! See you at the Duck!

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