Dutch painters
- Dutch Art
- Rembrandt
- van Gogh
- Jan Steen
- Frans Hals
- Vermeer

Sights of Holland
- Water management
- Delft blue
- Saint nicholas
- Tulips

Accomodations
- hotels
- camping
- holiday homes
- map of holland

Delft blue

history

The story of the Delft Blue, or Delft Blauw, began in China houndreds of years ago. In the 1600’s the beautiful white and blue porcelain came to Europe, and the Netherlands, with the Dutch East India Company. It soon gained major popularity and Dutch potters started to imitate the technique.
At this time porcelain was an unknown material in the Netherlands. The potters aimed to copy the Oriental products with local clay, and they were successful. In the first halft of the 17th century there were several factories in the Netherlands, especially in Rotterdam (12) and Delft (30). Why the factories were so concentrated to these areas are unknown, but the reason could have been the ailing brewery industry, which left many vacant buildings.

The earliest tiles were used for flooring , often in churches, wealthy homes or institutional buildings. When some floor tiles turned out to be too delicate for heavy usage, the tiles mover to the walls. Single tiles and whole pictures of tiles were used in kitchens, around fireplaces and as baseboards where floors met walls. The tiles were also used as insulation and protection against water seeping into houses.
Religious pictures and floral motifs were common in this time. Tiles and tile pictures were exported to countries such as Portugal, Spain, France, Germany and Britain. The aristocracy of these countries valued the workmanship and spectacular effetct achieved by the tile makers.
The Eighty Years’ War, 1586-1648, had an important effect of the development of the Dutch tile industry. The war between the Netherlands and Spain changed the conditions in the Netherlands for the worst. Antwerp and Amsterdam were busy trading ports and goods were transported throughout the country, the commerce flourished. The taxes forced on the trade by the King Philip II were not popular and the revolt was a fact. The countries also had religious dissonances which, together with the political situation, led many artists and craftsmen to migrate. They were driven out of their homelands and neighboring countries benefited from the large numbers of talented people.
In 1746 a white-baking clay was discovered. This new clay was in many ways superior to the clay the Delft pottery makers were using. The clay did not need the layer of white glaze. On top of that the decorations were more refind and covered with a layer of transparent glaze.
By the 19th century the advances in machinery for making pottery and usage of wallpaper, decreased the demand for the hand-made tiles. At the end of the century, only a small part of the industry remained. Of the many factories, only one had managed to survive. But with time a modernization of the old techniques became necessary and a change to printed, mass produced articles was made.
With the changes of fashion, the Delft Blue has become a sought-after item with the returning interest of handicraft. The tiles are also valuable for collectors around the world. The historical value of preserving the tiles in their original invironment such as farms, cottages and houses are increasing