When Delft became a real city in 1246, the population was smaller than the number of Facebook friends you (probably) have now: 400. The core of Delft was the church that stood on the site of the Oude Kerk.

If you've ever visited a Dutch city like Rotterdam or Amsterdam, you've certainly seen marketplaces brimming with blue ceramics decorated with pictures of cheese, clogs, windmills, and other traditional Dutch objects. These mass-produced, low-cost tourist-style "Delft Blue" goods, however, are far different from authentic antique Delftware, the bright blue and white handcrafted porcelain that is firmly entrenched in Dutch history and culture. This Delftware, which is frequently around 400 years old, is significantly more valuable and elegant, and it delights collectors from all over the world. Let's investigate why.

It began as an effort to imitate Chinese porcelain.Owning Chinese blue and white porcelain was quite trendy during the early 17th century among European Courts. However, 'kaolien'—a crucial element used in the production of this sought-after pottery—was simply not accessible in Europe at the time. Delft, Netherlands potters instead produced tin-glazed pottery with milky opacity very similar to porcelain, which was subsequently painted in the blue and white oriental style. This was done as an alternative to meet the strong market demand. Although Delft makers frequently used Chinese porcelain's designs and patterns when designing their wares, they also experimented with their paintings, coming up with fresh and distinctive Dutch themes and styles.

⚪️ Here's another interesting fact about this city:
The city center of Delft is made up of 80 bridges and 11 islands!
Eight bridges once connected the market square to the remainder of the city, which was an island.

One of these bridges has a special place in history. Delft used to be the marketplace for goods produced in the nearby countryside. Its premium butter was also its best-selling item before beer. To exchange it, peasants from nearby fields would travel to the Boterhuis. The butter was kept under a bridge not far from the guild house because it needed to be kept cool. As a result of the heavy boat traffic to and from the weighing station near the guild houses, the butter bridge gradually changed into what now appears to be a roadway but is actually two combined lanes.

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