25/07/2026
We had a blast in Delft.
After Italy, which was insanely hot and humid, it was pure bliss to be in a place with weather in the upper 60s.
Delft - which is where Jeremy was attending the international system dynamic conference - is super close to Rotterdam and The Hague. So, while he was conferencing, I was side-questing.
Rotterdam was completely destroyed during WWII, and as a result, the city architects decided to rebuild in a completely new way. All the building are super unique, including the yellow cube houses and the massive arched food hall with the painted bread basket ceiling. I also hit up a cool studio where an Egyptian-Dutch artist sells her work and snagged a few prints. Thank you, Instagram suggestions 🤣
Next up was The Hague, a place I’ve wanted to go for ma y years. Home to the Peace Palace, the international criminal court, and soooo much art.
On my way there, Verizon’s global roaming service completely shut down leaving me with no cell service, access to maps, and verrrry limited WiFi. Talk about throw back to old school wayfinding.
I found my way to the peace palace and to the Mauritshuis, the renowned museum that houses a number of Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings, including Girl with the Pearl Earring. It was a true highlight.
Next I spent my final day exploring Delft, home to gorgeous pottery and loads of history, including the life and death place of Vermeer and other artists.
My first experience in The Netherlands has been so so nice. We’re in Amsterdam now! It’s definitely a different vibe but more on that later.