Mechelen Inn, Delft

In 1641, Vermeer's father Reijnier Janszoon Vos bought the large Mechelen Inn on Markt (Market Place). As a tavern – with lodgings to stay overnight – it was much larger than a regular inn. In fact, Mechelen was the largest building in the area – standing on the corner of Oude Manhuissteeg (Old Men's Alley). The six fireplaces the tavern had offers a pretty good idea of its size.

The Inn enjoyed strategic location at the heart of the bustling city, with the Town Hall on one side and the Nieuwe Kerk on the other, and as such was much loved by the locals as a meeting place. Among those who frequented here were distinguished artists like Evert van Aelst, Egbert van der Poel and Leonaert Bramer – the latter being a friend of the Vermeer family, who came regularly for a bit of shop-talk and likely business.

In 1885 the Inn was demolished, to reduce fire hazard, and today no building stands in its place.

In 1955 a memorial tablet was placed on the wall of the adjoining house, at 52 Markt, to mark the spot where Mechelen once stood. Created by the Delft sculptor Johan Bijsterveld, the tablet bears the inscription: "Here stood Mechelen House where the artist Jan Vermeer was born in 1632", which contains two factual mistakes.

Firstly, Vermeer was not born in Mechelen but in the nearby Flying Fox, at 25 Voldersgracht, and only moved here when aged 9. And secondly, Vermeer never used the name Jan. He was baptized Joannis and always signed deeds as Joannes, Joannis or Johannis. Despite criticism, the foundation Delft Binnen De Veste (Delft Within The Ramparts), responsible for the inscription, stuck with the name Jan as more familiar, and so left the plaque as it is.