Details

On a beautiful December day, I walked through Delft with Ans to photograph a few of the city's charming details.  Of course, all Dutch cities have a personality, and most of them have quite a bit of charm coming from the US where anything before 1940 seems historic.  The Hague adorns nearly everything with storks, and on my bicycle commutes I made a sort of game of finding new storks.  Amsterdam has its ubiquitous city symbol, "xxx" engraved, flashing, or painted in its title.  Note that this isn't a sign indicating the Red Light District, an adult book store, or a tourist shop selling only extra large clothes.  It is simply the symbol chosen in 1507, St. Andrew's crosses.  Since we lived in Delft, I wanted to share a few of my daily wanderings, and thanks to Ans, a few new discoveries too.

Of course, many people know Delft because of its blue and white tiles.  The tiles are a fixture in many homes, shops, and along the way.  I like the modern use of blue and white tiles on the lamp posts near the Prinsenhof museum.  As you can see, these are very new (2009)...

The man shown below, Pieter van Foreest, was once the Doctor of Delft.  His former home (above) is the smallest in Delft.  In his later years, I think he became spokesman for Fisherman's Friend ;)

What caught my eye on an elegant, 1800s era house was the juxtaposition of "golden" and "herring" in its name.

When Ans pointed out the sign below, I gained new appreciation for the Golden Herring..

The animal theme continues with poultry...

And there are lions too!

These felines mark the front and back of the Leger (or Army) Museum.  I wouldn't have guessed that this museum, across from our apartment, would become a favorite for our family in Delft.  But the modern day Dutch are, of course, pacifists.  Thus, this museum has hundreds of teachable moments, and both beautiful (intricately carved hunting rifles) and provocative exhibits.  Sadly, the museum will close in December, another casualty of budget cutting during the financial crisis.

Sometimes, though, one doesn't even have to enter a building to learn something about its history.

This tells  quite dramatically about Maria Duyst, who gave money to create a center of liberal arts study that would seek "the marrow of science"

The girls' house (orphanage)

This building was first used to make blankets as shown in the relief, but later it was a gymnasium ( high school), inscribed just above the door.

I could live here for a year and still notice (and enjoy) a new detail above a doorway, on a weathervane, or in the cornice of some building.  I wonder what we'll all notice as we pack our bags and prepare to return to Hanover.