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@ranchandcoast RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE MARCH 2026 89 As birthplace of Johannes Vermeer of Girl with a Pearl Earring fame, Delft felt like the perfect backdrop for masterpieces and modern selfies alike. And yes, it's possible to purchase authentic Delft Blue pottery all over the Netherlands, but somehow it just feels right to consider it here at its birthplace. ere is even a Royal Delft Museum dedicated to the craft, which we chose to bypass, drawn instead to a street market filled with delicious cheeses, baked goods, fresh berries, and of course tulips. One friend scored a bundle of 100 peach tulips for just 15 euros while another downed whole pickled herrings, held by the tail and dangled over an open mouth like the locals. Leiden — Canals, Curiosity, and Quiet Leiden felt like a city that rewards those who slow down. Smaller and less polished than its sister hamlets, it portrayed a centuries-old confidence that put us instantly at ease. We followed canals curving gently through neighborhoods, bikes leaning casually against railings and window boxes spilling over with flowers. As the birthplace of Rembrandt, Leiden wears its artistic pedigree proudly. A university town, the city possesses an intellectual pulse, scattered with bookshops, cafés, and museums tucked into charming spaces. In the afternoon sun, we spent hours wandering into hidden courtyards we'd have missed if we weren't paying close attention. Some revealed architectural wonders, some colorful street art, while others opened into interior gardens filled with greenery and solitude. Ready for a caffeinated sit, we followed our noses to a canal-side café where locals and visitors contemplated how little life here seemed to have changed over the centuries. Haarlem, the Netherlands, and Harlem, New York, are directly connected through colonial history. Harlem in New York City was originally founded by Dutch colonists in 1658 and named "Nieuw Haarlem" after their prosperous hometown. In modern times, Haarlem feels like a historic city beckoning for exploration. Haarlem – Yes, at's Where the Name Came From OPPOSITE LEFT Tulip season lasts from late March to mid-May OPPOSITE RIGHT The sumptuous lobby lounge at Huis Ter Duin Hotel calls for champagne and caviar LEFT Trendy and comfortable restaurants and cafes dot the canal- sides in Holland's smaller burgs BOTTOM LEFT Strolling the shops in Delft, it's easy to find fine examples of their famous blue and white pottery BELOW Haarlem sports myriad examples of Dutch Renaissance architecture like the historic Vleeshal building >>