The Netherlands: Delft Blue. Amsterdam Green.

Josh here:

During our visit to the Netherlands Jake and I stayed in Rotterdam. Like many cities during WWII, Rotterdam was largely destroyed during bombing raids and has been rebuilt since. It still shares the familiar canal systems of many Dutch cities, but also boasts some quite modern buildings. One example is the “Markthal,” a functional public/private building with an interior multistory shopping mall and food hall, surrounded by an entire series of apartments with windows facing both into and away from the central hall. 

In Amsterdam, we met up with Bella, a friend of ours from college who shared an afternoon showing us around the city. The flower markets along a few of the canals were among our favorite sites. A country known largely for its tulip production, we visited a tulip museum. From their origin in the mountains of Central Asia, to their introduction to many European states through diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire, and beyond into current modes of production and global distribution, Jake and I learned lots about these perineal beauties. Also in Amsterdam, Jake learned about the difference between a “cafe” and a “coffee house.” The former sells coffee, pastries, and other lovely things one would expect to find at such an establishment. The latter is the euphemism for a marijuana dispensary—something completely legal in the country but still rather foreign to an Idaho boy.  

On our last day in The Netherlands we made a visit to the Royal Delft. Founded originally in 1653, it is now the only remaining pottery workshop in the city of Delft. Known largely for producing the popular Delft Blue pottery, the “royal” portion of the workshop name comes from a certification from the Dutch Monarchy. The workshop combines a museum with displays of Chinese porcelain (the simultaneous competition and inspiration for new styles of European pottery) and both examples of Delft Blue pottery and a modern workshop where visitors can watch artisans mold, shape, and paint Delft Blue by hand. The craftsmanship of the pottery production was truly a wonder to see firsthand. 



Bella, Josh, and Jake


An example of a Delft Blue flower vase


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