Studera utomlands

On a crisp November day, my Erasmus friends and I decided to leave our small village Wageningen to Delft, a Dutch treasure close to the coast.

We boarded the old tram from The Hague to Delft, a 30-minute journey. It was a scenic voyage through time surrounded by picturesque landscapes, creating an enchanting prelude to our day in Delft. However, you can always reach this university town by train.

Stepping into Delft, you are instantly welcomed by its quintessential Dutch charm. Surrounded by canals and adorned with typical Dutch buildings, Delft emanates the essence of Amsterdam. Nonetheless, it has more an intimate and cozy atmosphere, unspoiled by the lively crowds of tourists compared to the capital of the Netherlands.

By getting lost within the town, in just two minutes, we found ourselves in front of the in the historic old town. Here, lovely canals paint an idyllic scene that captures the heart and soul of Delft.

In Papenstraat a unique feature awaits – a ceramic map representing 17th-century Delft. Realized by the artist Nan Deardorff McClain, this mosaic masterpiece breathes life into the town’s history. Made from mosaic tiles and ceramics, the map is depicting beautiful tiny houses and bridges and the rural area made of green fields and irrigation ditches.

The town is known with the name of the City of Ceramics. Therefore, we discovered the artistry of Delftware ceramics, an essential component of the town’s heritage of culture, by strolling around the stores and markets.

The central Market Square is surrounded by an array of shops, full of ceramics art. Despite this, the square retains its beauty, with the Delft Town Hall on one side and the towering Delft New Church on the other. For the daring adventurous, a climb up the church promises amazing views of the charming Delft.

In the Netherlands, a visiting a new place isn’t complete without a seeing a windmill. We discovered an ancient windmill in Delft, a prof of the town’s rich agricultural history. Along the way, we treated ourselves with fresh and warm apple beignets, a delicious seasonal deep-fried puff pastry.

As the day winds down, it’s time to say good bye to Delft. With a bag of apple beignets in our hands, we board the train towards Eden-Wageningen, leaving Delft behind until our paths cross again.

Tot ziens, Delft, until our next rendezvous! ?

/Noemi