Page 235 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

DELFT  233

Delftware
Delftware (see pp32–3) stems from majolica,
introduced to the Netherlands in the 16th
century by Italian immigrants who had settled
around Delft and Haarlem and begun producing
wall tiles with Dutch designs, such as birds and
flowers. By the next century, however, Dutch
traders had started to deal in delicate Chinese
porcelain; this eventually led to the collapse
of the market for the less refined Dutch
earthenware. Towards 1650, though, the
Chinese example was adopted in the
Netherlands and craftsmen designed plates,
vases and bowls with pictures of Dutch
landscapes, biblical tableaux and scenes
from everyday life. De Porceleyne
Fles factory, which dates from 1652, is one
of the several Delftware potteries open to
the public for tours. 17th-century hand-painted Delft tiles

E Vermeer Centrum Delft 8 Maassluis 9 Schiedam
Voldersgracht 21. Tel 015-2138588. Road Map: B4. * 31,600. £ Road Map: B4. * 75,000. £
Open 10am–5pm daily. Closed 25 Dec. n Heldringstraat 101 (010-5911440). n Buitenhavenweg 9 (010-4733000).
& 8 Fri (Dutch) & Sun (English). 7 ( Tue, Fri. ∑ ervaarmaassluis.nl ( Tue am, Fri. ∑ sdam.nl
0 = ∑vermeerdelft.nl
The Vermeer Centrum The settlement of Maassluis Schiedam was granted its city
celebrates the work of one of grew up around the locks, charter in 1275 and soon
Delft's most enigmatic artists, which date from 1367; the afterwards expanded into a
Johannes Vermeer (1632–75). herring trade brought centre for trade and fishing.
The space, dedicated entirely prosperity to the town. It became the centre of the
to the life of the artist, has a The historic town centre is genever (Dutch gin) industry.
series of beautifully designed adorned with 17th-century The production of genever is
displays including a life-size buildings, such as the Grote still important to the town, as
copy of his famous masterpiece, Kerk, with its famous organ, evidenced by the five tallest
The Girl with a Pearl Earring and the Stadhuis, from 1650. windmills in the world and the
(1665–67). On the upper floor, The town’s fine steam tug still old warehouses and distilleries.
visitors can learn about his goes out to sea. Many of Dutch In the bar of the Jenever
painting techniques, particularly writer Maarten ’t Hart’s novels Museum (national genever
his use of perspective, colour are set in the Maassluis of museum), you can familiarize
and light. his youth. yourself with the enormous
range of Dutch genevers
and liqueurs.
The Stedelijk Museum
(municipal museum), with
exhibits of contemporary art
and on modern history, is in the
former St-Jacobs Gasthuis. Its
main attraction is the collection
of artwork by the group known
as COBRA (consisting of painters
from COpenhagen, BRussels
and Amsterdam).
E Jenever Museum
Lange Haven 74. Tel 010-2469676.
Open noon–5pm Tue–Sun & public
hols. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr, 25 & 26
Dec. 7 ∑ jenevermuseum.nl
E Stedelijk Museum
Hoogstraat 112. Tel 010-2463666.
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun.
Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. 7 - =
Genever and corn brandy, products of the genever capital of Schiedam ∑ stedelijkmuseumschiedam.nl

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