Because our tour director wanted us to see part of the Aalsmeer flower auction which started at 3:00 am, we had to leave our Amsterdam hotel at 7:15 am, arriving about 8:00. The Royal FloraHolland is the largest international trading platform for plants and flowers—we entered only one of eight massive warehouses. The total area is equivalent to 220 football fields! I took a short video to show you what a beehive of activity goes on here.

We next drove to the town of Delft, famous for its blue and white painted pottery, and saw a demonstration by a woman who has been a painter here for four years. Her colleague, though, has painted Delft pottery for 50 years! As you can see, the real Delft pottery is painted by hand and quite expensive (there are cheap Chinese knockoffs, so beware).

Of course, I made a beeline for the two main churches here and first visited the New Church, which was built in 1351! However, the fire of 1536 destroyed the organ, clocks and stained glass windows and partially destroyed the tower. The roof also caved in. Thirty years later the church was devastated by an explosion of gunpowder, and completely destroyed. The present building dates from 1655. Members of the royal family are buried here. As the stench of decay was at times unbearable, it is thought to be the origin of the phrase, “stinking rich.”

I visited the Old Church after lunch, and there has been a building here since 1050, growing and expanding ever since. There are actually three organs in this building, and I was happy to hear at least recordings of organ music played softly throughout my visit.

The painter Johannes Vermeer is buried here even though he died a pauper. Apparently he only sold one painting during his lifetime. Today his paintings are renowned around the world.

Both the Old and New Churches are Protestant. Many gravestones and epitaphs are badly damaged, as if hacked away. Around 1800 people wanted liberty, equality and fraternity, and resisted class distinctions. All of the coats of arms, flags and other symbols of class were removed from gravestones.

Today was very cold and windy in Delft with a few raindrops here and there. It reminded me of San Francisco in the summer time! However, I found it to be very picturesque with its many canals— “Delft” means canal.

Look how the cars have to parallel park along the canal with no railing! I was surprised to learn that only 10 cars per year end up in the water.

As for me, I would be absolutely petrified to park here!