Living the retirement dream

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Day-trip to Delft and Leiden

A day trip to Delft would have been better combined with The Hague as Delft is just past The Hague and Leiden is before The Hague, but we did not do the research ahead of time. Phyllis really wanted to go to the Delft factory as she has been collecting pieces for years. We visited Delft in 2008 but are happy to return as it was a very brief visit and we only saw the Delft factory at that time and there are a couple of churches that we want to visit.

More flower fields, probably hyacinths.
The fields sometimes run along the tracks for at least a half mile.
This is her trip today.
We walked the twenty minutes from the train station to the factory which is also a museum and of course a store.
Rembrandt’s Night Watch in Delft tiles.
After the museum we took an Uber to the town center. That is the back of the New Church. Groundbreaking was in 1396 and completion in 1496.
A musical group was rehearsing the entire time we were there making the visit extra special.
This is the tomb of William of Orange who is considered to be the father of The Netherlands.
New Church on Market Square in Delft. This is the second tallest church steeple in the Netherlands. We are walking to the Old Church.
Leaning steeple of the old church.
Vermeer’s grave in the old church.
A new grave for Vermeer in the same church.
Gemeenlandshuis is a late gothic house and the oldest stone-built house in Delft and was commissioned to be built in 1645. The Delftland Water Authority has been based in this building since 1645.
We had a quick meal at a Nepalese Restaurant before heading for Leiden.
Old buildings reflected on the new.
Leaving Delft
arriving Leiden.
Our primary goal in Leiden was to see Jan Steen’s grave in St. Peter’s Church.
Cute little streets in this college town.
We found St. Peter’s church but they closed early due to a special event this evening. Disappointment!!!!!
One of the college buildings we passed on the walk back to the train station.
Picturesque windmill in the city center.
Home in time for a beautiful sunset.

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4 responses to “Day-trip to Delft and Leiden”

  1. Amsterdam Hélène – Living the retirement dream

    […] we were all researching things to do in Leiden(except Mark). This is our third visit to Leiden, twice with Philip and Phyllis but we were happy to return as it is so charming here and we did not get to […]

    Reply
  2. Claude E. Steen, III Avatar
    Claude E. Steen, III

    Looking at your photos of Delft reminds me of visiting there as a child with our parents. Daddy was driving a rental car, parked on the side of a canal, and knocked a parked motor scooter into the canal while maneuvering back onto the street. Immediately someone came running with some kind of tool with a long wooden handle, specifically made and kept handy for just such an emergency! The motor scooter was back in its parking spot in just a few moments! Do either of you younger brothers of mine remember that?

    Reply
    1. Living our retirement dream Avatar
      Living our retirement dream

      We both remember that episode.

      Reply
  3. Mark Neylon Avatar
    Mark Neylon

    Your photos are making me very excited to see you!

    Reply

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