A Trip to the Delft Blue Pottery Factory (de Delftse Pauw)

Many tourists and expats alike talk about visiting the Delft Blue Pottery factory in the small town of Delft, The Netherlands, and as a result I was compelled to go and see what all the hype is about.

From the outside I expected huge touristy signs directing you to the entrance. In my mind, I had a grey factory building with large metal roll-up doors and dull old machines. But there was nothing of the sort. In fact, the ‘factory’, for lack of a better word, was quite unassuming from the onset – this could be any other little charming house seemingly converted into a business. But the lovely blue tiles on the façade of the house indicate to onlookers that this is indeed something more special.

As I made my way inside the Delft Blue Pottery Factory there was a very 80’s-looking counter and matching interior. Signs pointed upstairs to the factory itself. A young schoolboy quickly ushered me to the top of the stairs, eager to practice his English and reveal the pottery-making process.

The boy rattled off, informing me that he was fluent in numerous languages, ideal for communicating with the many foreigners who visit the factory. He was overflowing with excitement and pride for the establishment. Next, he explained the process of making this very famous pottery, from the creation of the moulds, to the hand painted designs and finally, the heating of the pottery in urns.

What I found most interesting about the design work is that when each piece of pottery is painted, the artists use black paint containing cobalt oxide, and later once the ceramics have been fired, the black paint turns to a lovely shade of blue – and this is what makes these pieces so unique and appealing to collectors across the globe.

In addition to explaining the pottery making process, the young tour guide informed me about the origins of the pottery and its importance in the Delft region from the 1600s to the 1800s.

Furthermore, I particularly enjoyed the family-like feel to the Delft Blue Pottery Factory (more of a studio really), and the personal approach of the young tour guide. I was also lucky enough to visit during the off-season period and to be the only visitor in the factory at that very moment.

After visiting the Delft Blue Pottery Factory, one can only wonder about the future of such an establishment in a time when mass production is looming and that replication of similar products for a much cheaper price is conducted on a large scale.

But there is no denying – this is a detailed art form appreciated by those with an eye for design and quality. One can see the meticulousness and utter care and dedication given to each piece. These are beautiful artisan products that speak for themselves – they are a real treasure for a loved one and a gift of meaning and exclusivity. This is something mass production can never achieve.

No trip to Delft is complete without a visit to the Delft Blue Pottery Factory. The Delft Blue Pottery theme is a proud and unmistakable facet of this little town, with colourful mosaic tiles on display down the tiniest of alleyways and bright blue street sculptures in the most unexpected of places.