This is a nice little shop with some really nice Delft ware at reasonable prices. Located on the…read moreplaza just next to the huge church. We found many authentic Delft pieces unlike so many places that try to sell you the knockoffs. The staff seemed very friendly as well.

De Blauwe Tulp, or The Blue Tulip, Delftware workshop and store next to the Nieuwe Kerk, was the…read morehighlight of my visit to Delft. Delft artists, inspired by Chinese porcelain brought in by trade ships, first made Delftware in the early 1600s, and this shop is part of Delft's artistic legacy. In the Netherlands, you will see lots of cheap, factory-made, not even 'made in Netherlands' fakes, but this place is the real thing. You can watch artists handpaint white ceramics with black cobalt oxide that turns blue in a super-hot kiln. An original piece is marked with a handpainted blue tulip in between the letters SR, the date, and the painter's initials. Yes, the pieces are a little pricey, but there were once over 30 potteries in Delft, and now there are only a few left, and The Blue Tulip is one of the only ones with entirely handmade ceramics. I visited on a miserable, cold, rainy winter day, and the people here were friendly, and the floor tiles were heated!

From the owner: Van Beek onderscheidt zich door het uitgebreide assortiment dat tegen zeer concurrerende prijzen…read morewordt aangeboden. Of het nu gaat om kunstenaarsbenodigdheden (zoals schildersdoeken, penselen, acrylverf of klei), tekenmaterialen, papier, spuitbussen met verf of computersupplies, kantoorartikelen, dtp supplies, ontwerp- en presentatiematerialen of lijsten; bij Van Beek bent u aan het juiste adres.

A good shop for all the crafts but not a speciality shop. Nice and friendly sales people. Good…read morevibes. Too small. Should be a department store but I'm American and we have department stories for socks so maybe I'm just used to that consumerism. Pass by the shop. It's pretty.

Imagine missing the train on Christmas Eve; your family will soon be enjoying a picture perfect…read moreChristmas Eve dinner without you. You are all by yourself, wandering the streets, somewhat lost... You turn a corner when all of a sudden sparkling window lights brighten your view. Intrigued by the four meter wide window display, your eyes slowly glide onto the scene behind the glass, until you hit the entrance. A smart looking chap with a curly mustache stands outside the door opening, lights a cigarette and says: "Welcome to GROOS!" You stumble in and realise you have arrived in what seems to be a candy store for grown-ups. From limited edition prints, stunningly appliqued cushions, rainbow-coloured trousers, cups and saucers with hand-painted characters, quirky books, custom furniture and birdhouse lamps, every corner of the shop is filled with something of interest. Everything is for sale and every item has its own story to tell. Shop-owners Tjeerd and Joost are always on hand to tell you where each item comes from and what on earth the store's name means. Groos: an old Rotterdam slang word meaning proud. And that makes perfect sense, because this newly opened concept store is filled with items designed exclusively by designers from Rotterdam. And there's no crap being offered here, I can tell you. All you can see here is rather special and lovingly made. GROOS takes 'retail is detail' to an awesome new level. And there's more! GROOS uses its store for Sunday afternoon events, where you can watch, taste, listen and enjoy even more of the city's coolest stuff. As seen on I Know This Great Little Place in Rotterdam (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.619499714755342.1073741904.103845866320732&type=1)

I visited the Delft factory in February this year, on a field visit to the Netherlands and Belgium…read more The visit to Delft was great fun and the factory itself is so much smaller than you'd imagine - it's literally the size of an average shop. That includes the first floor, which is where the pottery is made in several large kilns, and upstairs where the painters take up half, and the shop is located in the front half. Downstairs, as you enter you're face to face with several large kilns and lots of white pieces of pottery, before they've been painted in that well-known blue and white. We were given a talk about the process - apparently the clay originally comes from parts of the UK, and Germany. The blue colouring is made by ionising black paint, which they're hand-painted in. Upstairs, we saw three or four painters at work. Their skills are remarkable. Each piece of legitimate Delft pottery is hand-painted, and it was very interesting to watch them working. Surprisingly, original genuine Delft pieces are not expensive at the factory shop. They're more expensive in the shops in the Dutch cities, I expect. The factory is situated in a quiet residential street, in front of which is a canal.

I visited this factory with friends this year and found it fascinating. They have been making…read morepottery here since time immemorial!!! The painters were just amazing sometimes painting from a picture that someone has sent in as a commission. I will put some pictures on of our visit. There is a guide who is very knowledgeable and you get taken through the whole process from clay to finished product and they also had the makers marks there to help you check the genuine product from the fake, as there are two factory's both claiming to be the 'real' thing!!! The building is very small and not very wheelchair friendly but then what do you expect from such an old place!

There are many lace shops in Bruges (though not as many as Chocolate shops) and I think we visited…read morethem all (Ahem!). While I admire the craft, they can all start looking the same. We decided to go and purchase here after checking many out .We couldn't get to see the one on Bal Street (highly recommended by travelers and websites) by the Lace Museum (closed) as it had just closed for lunch (What is up with so many Bruges shops closing for lunch) on a cold day and we did not want to wait. We ventured back to the Markt area as we had liked most of the items at Lace Jewel. The range of products and prices was amazing. My wife purchased several pieces in the mid-level price range. There were large pieces she liked better (I reminded her of the missed opportunities from our last trip to Belgium to no avail) but opted for smaller items for herself and to give as gifts, etc. The cost was surprisingly satisfactory considering the quality but can get very expensive for the larger items. The shop owners were very attentive and friendly, helping customers with questions and needs. From the time we went in to leaving there was a constant check out line of three to four which attests to the popularity of Lace Jewel. While that size line may not seem long, in a small crowded shop like this, it is impressive. So, if you can't get to the Bal Street location, don't fret because the quality, service and variety can be found here.

From the owner: Located in the center of Brugge near the magic Markt square, Lace Jewel is a textile shop which…read morespecializes in traditional Belgian craftsmanship -- Lace and Tapestry. We invite you to discover our wide collection of table linen, tapestry wall hangings, bags and accessories. You are also welcome to visit our private museum of 19th century lace on the base floor! Our team will be happy to make you a lacework demonstration. See you soon!