Something To Declare: Delft, for Vermeer; the Seychelles

Destination of the week: Delft, for Vermeer

"We're bringing Vermeer back to Delft," says Koos de Wilt, director of the new Vermeer Centre in the Dutch town, which opens this week.

Four floors of a brand-new building, just off the market square in Delft, are devoted to the artist who was born in the town in 1632.

Johannes Vermeer painted only a few dozen pictures during his 42 years, and none remains in the place where he spent his life; the artist is buried in the Old Church. Until now, there has been little for visitors to see besides a gravestone. But when the new centre opens next Friday, 20 April, the artist's life and work will be celebrated. An entire floor is devoted to Vermeer's approach to his work, and in particular his mastery of light.

The Centre has been created by Yvonne Nieuwenhuijs. It includes copies of all Vermeer's known paintings.

"For a lot of people, it's not possible to travel the world to see the originals of all of Vermeer's work, so we have provided an alternative," she says.

Some Vermeer originals are within easy reach: the Mauritshuis in the Hague has three, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, while four more are at the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum.

The Vermeer Centre is at Voldersgracht 21 (00 31 15 213 85 88; www.vermeerdelft.nl). It opens 10am-6pm daily (to 5pm on Sundays and in winter), €8 (£5.50).

Warning of the week: the Seychelles

The Indian Ocean archipelago is regarded as a safe destination - but this week the Foreign Office stepped up its warning about crime in the Seychelles:

"Take care in isolated areas but also in more popular places such as Beau Vallon, and the back streets of Victoria [the capital], especially after dark. Beaches are a favourite target for petty thieves. Take particular care if alone."

The Foreign Office also warns against carrying hard currency into or out of the Seychelles on behalf of others, or wearing camouflage clothes (this applies even for children), and advises homosexuality is illegal.

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