Dutch Tile Tour of Van Cortlandt House Museum

With the start of the new year, there is a special and fun event planned at the Van Cortlandt House.

Come to the house for a rare chance to see the Dutch tiles up close. We will take you behind the scenes into the period rooms of Van Cortlandt House with decorated Dutch tiles (yes, we will go behind the gates for this special event).

The range of the files at the house is immense. Everyone has favorites, and you will find your own. Some are very stylized. Many include fine details. Features of both fantasy and everyday life were subjects.

There will be a quick introduction to the blue tiles which are thought to be as Dutch as the windmill but are the result of a global cultural exchange. Items so beautiful as the Dutch tiles are destined to have a complex history. And perhaps a colorful history. And they do: we will start with a history highlights overview, but we will try to keep it simple and engaging. And yes, there is romance in history: the Dutch love of the famous Delft Blue color scheme, used for hundreds of millions of the tiles, may have originated from Ming porcelains sold by returning pirates around 1600.

There will be a few surprises for even the experienced tile lover. Some of the museum’s tiles which are not mounted in the rooms will be on display for this special event.

After the introduction and brief group tour, you will be free to visit the three rooms with the tiles and spend as much time as you would like. So, bring your camera: the tiles are photogenic, and you might see some you have never seen before on this special day.