Page 257 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

THE NE THERLANDS  255

9 Delft three connected tower blocks
* 95,000. £ @ n Hippolytus- whose tops are slightly off-kilter.
buurt 4 (0900-5151 555). ( Thu, Sat. The excellent Museum
Boijmans-van Beuningen holds
The charming town of Delft is Netherlandish and Dutch art.
most famous for its blue-and- Among its most famous exhibits
white pottery, known as Delft- are a number of paintings by
ware, which was introduced to Peter Brueghel and Rembrandt.
the Netherlands by immigrant Other museums of note
Italian potters in the 16th are the Wereldmuseum
century. De Porceleyne Fles is Rotterdam, with its superb
one of two Delftware potteries ethnological collection, the
still in operation, and is open Kunsthal, hosting exhibitions of
for guided tours. both high art and popular
Delft is also the resting place culture, and the Maritiem
of William of Orange (1533–84), Delft’s Nieuwe Kerk, with its soaring Museum Rotterdam, devoted
who commanded the Dutch 100 m (328 ft) high tower to the history of shipping,
Revolt against Spanish rule from 0 Rotterdam whose highlight is an iron-clad
his headquarters in the town. His warship, De Buffel, built in 1868.
richly decorated tomb lies in * 585,000. k 6 km (4 miles) NW. For a spectacular view of the
the Nieuwe Kerk, built between £ @ n Coolsingel 195 (010-790 city, take the elevator up the
1383 and 1510, but later restored 0185). ( Tue, Fri, Sat, Sun. 185 m (60 ft) high Euromast.
following damage caused by Built in 1960, it is the tallest
fire and explosion. The former Rotterdam occupies a strategic construction in the country,
convent that position where the Rhine meets and has a restaurant and an
William used as the North Sea. Barges from the exhibition area.
his military head- city transport goods deep into
quarters, and where the continent, and ocean-going E Museum Boijmans-van
he was assassinated ships carry European exports Beuningen
by order of Philip II around the world. Museumpark 18–20. Tel 010-441 9400.
of Spain, is now Following damage during Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, Apr 27,
home to the World War II, Rotterdam’s old Dec 25. & - = 7
Stedelijk Museum harbor area and river front have ∑ boijmans.nl
Het Prinsenhof. been rebuilt in daring and E Wereldmuseum Rotterdam
Hand-painted The museum avant-garde styles. Piet Blom’s Willemskade 25. Tel 010-270 7172.
17th-century contains a rare Kubuswoningen (Cube Houses) Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, Apr 27,
Delft tiles collection of of 1982 are extraordinary Dec 25. & - = 7
antique Delftware, apartments set on concrete ∑ wereldmuseum.nl
as well as tapestries, silverware, stilts. More recent eyecatching E Kunsthal
medieval sculpture, and portraits examples are Renzo Piano’s KPN Westzeedijk 341. Tel 010-440 0300.
of the Dutch royal family. Telecom head office and De Open Tue–Sun. Closed Jan 1, Apr 27,
Other sites of interest are Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas – Dec 25. & - = ∑ kunsthal.nl
the Vermeer Centrum Delft,
which charts the life and works
of Delft’s most famous son, Jan
Vermeer (1632–75), and the
Oude Kerk, which dates from
the 13th century. Vermeer is
buried here, his grave marked
by a simple stone tablet.
R Nieuwe Kerk
Markt. Tel 015-2123 025.
Open Mon–Sat. & ∑ onkd.nl
E Stedelijk Museum
Het Prinsenhof
St. Agathaplein 1. Tel 015-2602 358.
Open Tue–Sat, Sun pm.
Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. & =
∑ prinsenhof-delft.nl
E Vermeer Centrum Delft
Voldersgracht 21. Tel 015-213 8588.
Open daily. Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. Peter Brueghel the Elder’s The Tower of Babel (c.1553), in the Museum Boijmans-van
& 7 - = ∑ vermeerdelft.nl Beuningen, Rotterdam

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