400 Years ago the first Dutch East India Company ships arrived back in Holland filled with the Chinese blue and white porcelain. This porcelain became very popular among affluent families such as the European Royals. When the import of Chinese porcelain declined as a result of civil wars in China, the Dutch potteries seized the opportunity and developed their own version of this blue and white porcelain. This resulted in the birth of Delft Blue in the Netherlands. Nowadays, Delft Blue is one of the true Dutch icons.