Delft Gables

It was study time again, so I went to Delft by bike (which is nearly breaking down by the way - I should really have it fixed one day) to the coffee place with its long tables and fabulous espresso. I worked there for a couple of hours and managed to get quite a bit done. Left the place when a flock of screaming girls came in...

After that I decided to do a bit of sightseeing and entered the Nieuwe Kerk ('New Church', built from 1396, not very new anymore), for I had never seen the inside of one of the most imoportant churches of our country before. This is where almost the complete Royal Family is buried since the 16th Century. Quite impressive. That also got me some good photos with the sun entering the church through the stained glass, but still decided to go for this pretty Dutch scenery.

Happy blipping!

More info of the New Church, for those of you who are interested. If not, feel free to skip this!

The New Church was called 'new' because it was the second (hence 'new') parish church of Delft. The location is where an eccentric beggar -brother Symon- kneeled there in 1351. When a man called Jan Col brings him some food, both look in the air and see a 'golden church'. The original construction, of which the building started in 1396, was from wood and remained there until 1420, but yet during the existence of this wooden church the building of the current, brick one started. Apparently this was a pretty amazing piece of work, even for that time, because every piece was done by hand and had to be transported upwards, and the soil was swampy.

That this church now is linked to the house of Orange (the Dutch royals) is more or less a coincidence, because Delft was just a temporary residence for William of Orange. From there he lead the revolt against the Spanish occupier. William was killed by Balthasar Gerards in 1584, but at that moment his formal residence in Breda (the castle of William is just left of the place of my blip) was still in Spanish hands, which meant he couldn't be buried there. Since that moment the royals are buried in the New Church.

Thanks to the booklet I received there. Next time I will post an inside blip.