What is Royal Delft and why is it famous?

Royal Delft is the best-known Delft Blue pottery company in the Netherlands and the last surviving original Delftware factory from the 1600s. The company began in 1653 under the name De Porceleyne Fles in the city of Delft. Royal Delft became famous for hand-painted blue-and-white pottery inspired by Chinese porcelain. During the Dutch Golden Age, Delftware factories supplied ceramics across Europe and many competitors closed during the 18th and 19th centuries after English porcelain and Chinese imports became cheaper. Royal Delft survived by focusing on quality and artistic craftsmanship, where Queen Beatrix granted the company the “Royal” title in 1919. Today the factory attracts tourists from around the world who visit its museum, workshops and historic kilns. Artists still paint every piece by hand using cobalt blue pigments and some limited-edition Delft Blue vases and plaques sell for several thousand euros.