Visit the Royal Delft Museum and experience authentic Dutch craftsmanship. Brushes gently touch the white pottery, while elsewhere clay is poured into handmade moulds. Craftsmen have been creating the iconic Delft Blue for almost 400 years. Founded in 1653, Royal Delft is the last remaining pottery factory from the 17th century in Delft. Discover all about the history, craft and innovation of this royal company during a visit. In addition to a visit to the Royal Delft Museum, you can also experience the craft yourself by following a painting workshop. This is how you create your own Delft blue plate to hang on the wall at home!
History
Royal Delft/De Koninklijke Porcelyne Fles was founded in 1653 by David Anthonisz v.d. Pieth and is the only remaining Delft earthenware factory. The world-famous pottery is still produced in the factory and painted entirely by hand according to age-old traditions. Delft Blue porcelain has a rich history, dating back to the early 1600s. Chinese porcelain, painted white on blue, was used in the V.O.C. time extremely popular among the wealthy such as European royal houses. The V.O.C. In addition to spices, ships also brought porcelain from China. When a civil war broke out in China, the Dutch potteries seized their opportunity. They started the imitation of the hand-painted porcelain and this is how the Delft Blue industry was born, known worldwide as a purely Dutch product.
Collection
The museum houses a large number of historical pieces, including the Royal Delft Night Watch. The world-famous painting from 1642 measures no less than 363x437 cm. To make the Royal Delft Museum version of the painting, 480 tiles of 18x18 cm were needed. In the ceramic room you can see the building ceramics that can also be seen below in the old post office of Rotterdam. Be surprised by the changing exhibition that can be seen in the ceramic room.
Discover the monumental building
In the Ceramic Rooms and the inner garden you can see replicas and examples of architectural work that was mainly executed in the period 1880 to 1930. Pillars, tile pictures, ceramic elements and even a fountain decorate these rooms. In the past, Royal Delft has manufactured building ceramics for, among others, the Peace Palace in The Hague, the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, but also the Old Post Office in Rotterdam.
Painting workshops
At Royal Delft you can view more than just the Royal Delft Blue. There are workshops to follow and arrangements to book. For example, you can decorate your own vase, tile or plate and there are special children's workshops during the holidays.
Brasserie1653
Brasserie1653 is a hidden gem of Royal Delft, an oasis of peace with a beautiful courtyard. You can always enjoy lunch or a cup of coffee with apple pie in Brasserie1653, with or without a visit to the museum and factory. In the brasserie they offer top quality organic regional products.
Accessibility
From Delft station you can walk to Royal Delft in 15-20 minutes. Royal Delft offers free parking facilities at the rear and side of the building.
