Get out of Amsterdam, Dive into Delft

_dsc8465OK that’s it, grab your jacket. We are getting out of Amsterdam.

One hour by train. That’s all you need to get out of this city that is miring in cheap tasteless fish-net stockings and terrible stench of smoking cannabis. I have been to Amsterdam twice and still haven’t learnt to love it. Shoot me.

Delft is the place to go if you ever find yourself floundering in the riling capital of the Netherlands. You still get to stroll along the emblematic Dutch canals, eat pancakes and do an elegant ballerina brisé to avoid the gentle stream of bicycles that might, occasionally come in your way. So relax, you are not missing out on anything.

Delft is the perfect day-trip place for all. It’s comfortably small, sun-slowed and genial. You don’t need a map to navigate your way around the town.

The heart of it lies in a beautiful market square, protectively swaddled in a circle of Renaissance buildings and shops.

Every Thursday, close to a hundred stalls open at the square, spread out like the wing of a Morpho butterfly. From fresh flowers to crusty loaves, antiques and bric-a-brac, the Delft Market has it all.

But maybe these are not enough to satisfy your itching need to shop (I can understand). That’s why we are going to waltz across the market and spend every cent of our Euros at Royal Delft – on the famous blue and white pottery.

Influenced by the design of 14th-century Chinese porcelains, this earthenware will turn corners of your house into a page out of House and Garden Magazine.

And yes, they are not the cheapest thing from this town. So, you might want to skip the “Fragile” label altogether and proceed to buy a new seat on the plane for your soon-to-be-heirloom souvenir.

If it helps to know that Delft is the hometown of one of the greatest Dutch Golden Age painters, I’ll secretly tell you that this is where Vermeer was born, baptised and buried. You can spend an hour or two at the Vermeer Centrum to learn about his work and his life. Or, you can toddle your way to 40 and 42 Vlamingstraat to see the once mysterious passageway that appeared in one of his most important paintings, The Little Street.

But of course, you are more interested in finding out where to get the best butter cookies. We all are. Your wish will be granted at Stadsbakkerij De Diamanten Ring.

Step into the shop, unleash your inner child and look at all the cakes, pastries and cookies in wide-eye wonder. Buy three, five or even more. And if you could pronounce the name of this bakery, all’s on me.

_dsc8422 _dsc8423 _dsc8424_dsc8428 _dsc8431 _dsc8432 _dsc8435 _dsc8437 _dsc8438 _dsc8439 _dsc8440 _dsc8443 _dsc8446 _dsc8455 _dsc8460 _dsc8463 _dsc8449 _dsc8454 _dsc8464_dsc8469 _dsc8472_dsc8478 _dsc8473 _dsc8477 _dsc8485 _dsc8545 _dsc8490 _dsc8492 _dsc8495 _dsc8508 _dsc8506 _dsc8499 _dsc8500 _dsc8503 _dsc8516 _dsc8525 _dsc8526 _dsc8528 _dsc8522 _dsc8531 _dsc8536

With love x

Have you seen these ?

  • The Lows of Shang-HighThe Lows of Shang-High How low is low for a place so high like Shanghai? Find out how the Pearl of the Orient, the Paris of the East isn't as appealing as you thought it would be. "Another sharp, insightful […]
  • What is Fine Dining at Le DavoliWhat is Fine Dining at Le Davoli What is "fine dining"? A term that, once mentioned, brings forth immediate visualisation of opulent restaurants, up-scale clientèle, lavish ingredients prepared and plated to their […]
  • An Open Letter to My Future (hopefully not ex) HusbandAn Open Letter to My Future (hopefully not ex) Husband   ads/* EMPWR YRSLF Slogan T-shirt ( £ 29.95) sponsored by Smile Makers Collection Dear Future (hopefully no ex) Husband, This letter is for you. It’s not about the toilet seat debate or […]
  • Let’s Take a Walk in BéziersLet’s Take a Walk in Béziers More than 12 hours of sleep and 2 glasses of warm honey lemon later, I'm still feeling pretty feeble in bed. We took a long drive up to the highlands of La Salvetat yesterday morning and […]