Amsterdam: Delft Blue Tile Painting Workshop & Souvenir

4.91

(171 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I signed up for this Delft Blue tile painting workshop in Amsterdam mostly out of curiosity (and maybe because it sounded like a break from the rain). But walking into the little studio, with its shelves lined with blue-and-white plates and tiles, I got this sudden feeling — like I’d just stepped into someone’s living room. There was a faint smell of paint and something sweet I couldn’t place at first (stroopwafels, it turned out). Our host, Marijke, greeted us with this easy smile and offered coffee right away. She had paint on her hands already — made me trust her instantly.

We sat around a big table with blank ceramic tiles in front of us. Marijke started telling stories about Delftware — how these patterns have been around for centuries, how each brushstroke is a bit different every time. She showed us some classic designs (tulips and windmills), but said we could do whatever we wanted. I tried to copy one of the traditional swirls and ended up smudging it; Marijke just laughed and said that’s what makes it mine. The blue paint felt cool under my fingers — not something I expected to notice, but it stuck with me.

There was a family from Spain next to me who kept switching between Spanish and English as they debated their designs. Someone else asked if you needed to be “artistic” for this — honestly, you don’t. It’s more about slowing down and enjoying the process than making something perfect. At one point someone knocked over their tea; nobody cared, everyone just kept chatting or working quietly. The whole thing lasted about 90 minutes but I barely noticed the time passing.

I left with my painted tile wrapped up carefully in paper (it’s on my shelf now). Every time I look at it I remember that weirdly peaceful afternoon in Amsterdam — the soft clink of brushes in water cups, Marijke’s gentle corrections, the taste of syrupy stroopwafel melting into coffee. If you want a souvenir that actually feels personal — well, this is probably it.