STORY | DELFT

Three Generations in Delft, by the Nieuwe Kerk

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Three generations of one family standing together in a narrow Delft lane, the Nieuwe Kerk tower rising at the end of the street

For her 75th birthday, Els wished for just one thing: a photo of all three generations in Delft, together for once. So on an October afternoon, all eight of them met me behind the Nieuwe Kerk, from grandpa Henk to little Mees in his rust-colored overalls.

Their two grown-up children came with their partners, and ten-year-old Evi came ready to play. With old lanes, little bridges and the church tower around every corner, it was an easy afternoon for me as a photographer in Delft.

Three Generations on the Vrouwenregt

We started on a red bench by the water, right behind the tall Gothic windows of the Nieuwe Kerk. Henk and Els sat in the middle with Mees tucked in between them, and everyone else gathered close. Then we climbed the small white bridge beside the church, and all eight of them waved at once.

Three generations of a family on a red bench by the water in Delft, the tall Gothic windows of the Nieuwe Kerk behind them

Three generations waving from the white railings of a small arched bridge in Delft, old gabled houses rising behind them

On a second bridge nearby, the trees were just turning yellow. I asked everyone to squeeze in, and the laughter came by itself.

Three generations laughing close together on a canal bridge in Delft, yellowing trees and red-brick houses behind them — A canal bridge near the Nieuwe Kerk, half past three

Hide and Seek in the Old Lanes

From there, we wandered into the quiet lanes behind the church. Henk and Els walked Mees between them, one small hand in each of theirs, while his mother followed. A few steps later, the whole family strolled down a lane of red doors and potted plants.

Three generations on a walk in Delft, grandparents leading a toddler in rust overalls by the hands, his mother following

Three generations walking down a narrow Delft lane with red doors and potted plants, a Gothic church window at its end

Meanwhile, Evi had spotted a hanging basket of pink geraniums. She stood right under it until the flowers almost hid her face. Soon after, she crouched on a doorstep and pulled her little cousin into a hug, with the church tower rising behind them.

Girl in a blue patterned jumpsuit hiding her face behind a hanging basket of pink geraniums against a gray-blue house front

Girl crouching on a doorstep and hugging her little cousin in corduroy overalls, the Nieuwe Kerk tower rising behind them — The Nieuwe Kerk tower, twenty to four

These quiet lanes behind the church are among my favorite photo spots in Delft.

Portraits of Three Generations

Then came my favorite part: a portrait of each of them, all eight. A narrow street with the church tower at its end gave us the first frame of this story. Nearby, a dark green wooden wall made every face stand out.

Grandfather in a navy polo shirt and round glasses with his hands in his pockets, smiling against a dark green wooden wall

Woman in a floral dress with a pendant necklace crossing her arms and smiling widely, a close portrait against a dark wall

Woman with short hair in a cream cable-knit sweater, arms crossed and smiling warmly against a dark green wooden wall

Henk kept his hands in his pockets, while the two mothers crossed their arms and laughed between frames. Evi posed with her hands on her hips like a model. Mees, of course, was busy with a snack and simply grinned at me.

Girl with long hair posing with her hands on her hips in a narrow street of old houses, the church tower softly blurred behind

Toddler in rust corduroy overalls laughing with a snack in his hands on the cobbles, the Nieuwe Kerk tower behind him

Finally, the two fathers took their turn at the dark wall, one with a big grin and one with his arms calmly crossed.

Man with a beard in a sage green sweater and collared shirt grinning with his hands in his pockets against a dark wall

Bearded man in glasses and a dark speckled shirt with his arms crossed, a calm portrait against a dark green wooden wall

The Last Laugh Belongs to Els

The last portrait was Els’s own. She laughed and raised one hand, as if to say that was quite enough now. It was a warm end to an afternoon with three generations in Delft, and her birthday wish came true.

Grandmother with white hair and round glasses laughing and raising one hand, in a blue knit vest against a dark wall — The dark green wall, 16:13

Bringing the whole family together soon? Discover how I work as a photographer in Delft.