12 Things to Do in Delft: The Perfect City Day Trip (2024)

On a regular day in September, we decided to hop on our motor scooter for a 30-minute drive from Rotterdam (where we live) to Delft. Despite having visited this charming city many times, we again discovered many new things to do in Delft.

Such as climbing up 376 steps for an 85m high view. But we will come to that later…

The best things to do in Delft are to walk along the old canals where Dutch traditional houses can still be admired, and marvel at the famous Delft Blue pottery and the Vermeer paintings. Enjoy the historical atmosphere at the squares with old churches, courtyards, and museums.

pintrest pin things to do Deflt the netherlands

At first glance, Delft seems like a small version of Amsterdam. But once you’re there, you’ll soon feel the relaxing atmosphere and a young non-touristy vibe created by the people who live there and the sororities of Delft University of Technology.

Our favorite thing to do in this historic city is to walk along the canals and admire the row of Dutch houses, some dating back to the 1600s or longer. But of course, Delft has so much more to offer.

Before we get into the things to do in Delft, let’s start with some practical stuff…

How to get to Delft

gates to the train platforms in delft station with a beautiful delft blue design — Look closely and you will see Delft ‘written’ on the ceiling

Delft is an excellent destination for a day trip. It isn’t a big city and if you want to walk around and include a visit to a museum plus lunch, then you will be fine with 5 hours or so.

It is therefore a great thing to do when visiting Amsterdam, and worth it.

The best way to get to Delft from Amsterdam, or anywhere else in the Netherlands, is by train. Intercity trains stop at Delft, making it quick and easy to get there. Plus the train station is worth admiring too!

An intercity train leaves 2 x an hour from Amsterdam and lasts just 1 hour (Price one-way: € 15,30). The train stops at Schiphol and Den Haag (The Hague) too, so if you want to board there then it’s 38 minutes (Price one-way € 11,60) and 14 minutes (Price one-way €2,90)

delft blue art incorporated in the ceiling of the train station in delft, escalators with passengers arriving — Beautiful main hall of Delft Train Station

woman checking the departure times on a screen at delft station — Beautiful main hall of Delft Train Station

Delft is also an excellent place to visit if you are staying in Rotterdam. It is practically around the corner. In 12 minutes you will arrive at the beautiful Delft train station (Price one-way €3,90)

We don’t recommend going by car. Like most cities in the Netherlands, parking can be difficult or expensive. And besides, train stations are often located in the heart of the town so why the hassle?

Getting Around Delft

Man walking through a picturesque street with a flower shop in city center Delft — Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes when visiting Delft

Delft has an old city center with narrow streets so you won’t find any buses or trams there. You can go by car, but we recommend parking in a parking garage outside the city center and continuing on foot.

So the best way is to go on foot. On foot, you can see more details plus you can easily walk through the little tunnels leading to yet another beautiful part of the city.

While the streets might seem deserted sometimes, watch out for the cyclists who have no mercy when you are standing in the way…

Best Things To Do In Delft

The great thing about Delft is that it is small, making it easy to wander from one highlight to the other.

Despite all the things you can do, we highly recommend taking things slow and just selecting a few things. Make sure you stop, sit, and look around because that is when you are amazed by the historic beauty of Delft.

1. Walk Through Charming Delft

woman standing on a bridge of a old canal in delft with historic buildings in the background — Crossing one of the many bridges

We can’t stress it enough, to experience Delft you will need to walk. The historic buildings show the important role of Delft in Dutch history.

The name Delft comes from the word ‘delf’ which means to dig, referring to the canal along which a settlement was founded in the 11th century. Walk along the canals that will lead you along the historical architecture of a city that flourished during the Middle Ages as a center of trade, industry, and craftsmanship.

Did you know that Delft used to be famous for its beer? Based on archeological finds, the first breweries date back to 1210. With more than 200 breweries, found in houses such as along the Korenmarkt, Delft was the biggest brewery city in Europe in the 16th century. Its location along the waterways made it possible to cheaply import the ingredients and export them easily from Delft to the rest of the Netherlands and beyond. (source: Archeologie Delft)

Willem Of Orange

During the Dutch Golden Age Delft played an important role in the political and economic development of the Dutch Republic. William Of Orange, the leader of the Dutch Revolt against the Spanish rule lived and was assassinated in 1584 in Delft.

Towards the end of the ‘Oude Delft’ (Old Delft Canal) you will find the Museum Prinsenhof. Here you can still see the bullet hole that killed Willem Of Orange. He is buried in the Nieuwe Kerk located at the ‘Markt’ (Market Square) in Delft. Today this church is also the burial site of the royal family.

Dutch East India Company (VOC)

historic building with large doors and windows in delft the netherlands — Building of Dutch East India Company

wall with the words royal delft 1653 Koninglijke Porceleyne Fles surrounded by delft blue plates — Building of Dutch East India Company

In 1602 the Dutch East India Company (VOC) was founded. Like many other cities in the Netherlands, Delft prospered. It was one of the headquarters and managed the important trade routes to Asia bringing wealth and goods to the Netherlands such as spices, textiles, and ceramics.

During this period there was cultural growth as well. Chinese porcelain inspired the artists to create the famous Delft Blue pottery. Additionally, artists like Johannes Vermeer had left their mark.

stunning old building with shutters and decoration along a small street in Delf — The oldest building of Delft was built in 1505 whose owner became rich from the beer brewery

Half of Delft was destroyed in 1654 by a huge gunpowder explosion. Hundreds of people died and the city was left in ruins. Despite this, the city recovered and maintained its important position in the rich history of The Netherlands. This is evident wherever you walk.

2. Walking Route Boots and Sandals

We have created a Delft Walking Route that will take you along all the things to do in Delft (except the Royal Delft Blue Museum and Botanic Garden). It starts at the Delft Train Station where you go left to the Windmill Roos. From there, you walk slightly back to enter the historic city through the picturesque Prinsenhof. Continue the route along the many canals and Market Square where you will see the many historic sights.

Feel more like a guided tour to all of Delft? Consider the 2 hour Free Delft Walking Tour

3. Hop On A Canal Tour

small canal boat navigating through a small canal in Delft with the old church in the background, cars are parked along the canal — Enjoy the picturesque city of Delft from the water

A canal tour isn’t only great because you can see a city from the water, but the information and stories you get along the way make it extra special.

Just like Amsterdam, Delft has canal tours as well. They might not be as long as the ones in the capital city of the Netherlands, but they give an extra dimension to your visit.

You can either go with Canal Cruises Delft which provides large boats and information in various languages (Tickets: Adults €12,50). Their boats leave every full hour between 11:00 and 17:00.

If you want something smaller and personal go for the second option: Canal Hopper Delft. Here you pay per boat that takes a maximum of 8 people for €54,50 an hour. They can pick you up at various locations. When making a reservation, double-check if the skipper can speak English.

4. Check out the Windmill ‘De Roos’

full view of a dutch windmill with its living quarters built around it, doors to the shop is open — The place to fully witness a real Dutch Windmill

In 1679 the ‘De Molen De Roos‘ (Windmill The Rose) was a wooden grain windmill located right at the city wall. Over the many years, the wood was replaced by bricks. Unlike other windmills, the bottom structure of the Windmill De Roos’ is hexagonal and the upper part is round. In 1760 it was fully completed as it is today.

If you have seen a windmill before you might not think this one is that unique. However, the Windmill De Roos has overcome many obstacles. One involved lifting the whole windmill complex (weight: 1100 tons) 1 meter higher to place it right on the roof of the train tunnel constructed in 2012.

5. Be close to history at Museum Prinsenhof Delft

man walking through the gates and courtyard in Delft — Gates leading to Prinsenhof

view of entrance to the prinsenhof museum with the tip of the old church tower in the back — Gates leading to Prinsenhof

The Prinsenhof museum is located in a former monastery and was used as the court of Willem of Orange.

The museum has collected many unique artifacts over the last 140 years that mainly focus on objects related to Delft such as Willem of Orange, Delft Blue, and Masters of Delft. Additionally, there is always an exhibition.

In the museum, you can find the exact spot where Willem of Orange was assassinated. The bullet hole in the wall is still visible.

6. Watch out for the Oude Kerk Tower

the old church of delft with its tower leaning slightly to the left, located right against the canal — The Leaning Tower is the Tower of Pisa of Delft

When you walk along the Oude Delft canal you will have a wonderful view of the ‘Oude Kerk, or Old Church. Presumably, a little church was built at this very spot in 1050. From 1246 the church slowly extended and became a large Gothic-styled church called Sint Hippolytuskerk.

In 1325 the church needed a tower but there was no space as it was located right at the Oude Delft Canal. The solution: the canal was slightly filled. During the construction of the 75-meter tower, it became evident that the soil was too soft and marshy.

Half way the construction they stabilized the tower but they could not straighten it. From then on the tower got the nickname ‘Scheve Jan’ meaning Leaning John.

view of delft city from above, including the old church — The Delft Old Church still stands strong

In 1573 it became a protestant church and could not be named after a Saint. People of Delft eventually started calling it the old church, since a second and newer church had already been built around the corner. (source: Erfgoedbekeken).

You can enter the Old Church, admire the stained glass windows, and organs, and take in the rustic atmosphere. Additionally, there are several tombs of notable figures such as the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer and naval heroes Piet Hein and Maarten Tromp.

Besides checking out the interior of the Old Church, there are interesting exhibitions here too.

7. Check the views from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)

stunning old buildings in delft city center with the tall tower of the new church in the back — The new church towers above all the historic buildings in Delft

Delft decided to build a church in the 14th century. Since the city already had a church, the new church was simply named the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Construction started in 1381 and 115 years later the tower was completed.

With a height of around 108 meters (354 feet), it is the second-largest church tower in the Netherlands. The gothic-styled tower reflects the city’s growing prosperity during the late Middle Ages. (source: Erfgoedbekeken)

picture looking up to the tower of the nieuwe kerk delft with a statue in front of hugo grotius — You can only wonder how they could have built this in 1300s

Besides the architectural and aesthetic value, the Nieuwe Kerk has an important connection with the Dutch royal family.

Ever since Willem of Orange (also known as Willem the Silent) was interred in the Nieuwe Kerk in 1584, more members of the House of Orange-Nassau and the Dutch Royal Family were placed here too. (source: oudeennieuwekerkdelft)

The last royal ceremony was in 2004 when Prins Bernhard was placed in the Royal Burial Chamber, where 46 other royal family members were given their final resting place.

man standing at the doorway of the balcony of the nieuwe kerk balcony with view of delft and beyond

woman climbing down the narrow towers stairs of the new church delft

View from delft markt sqaure and the city hall from the tower high up — Delft City Hall and its city from high up the New Church tower

Just like the Old Church, you can enter the New Church too. Besides the church itself, you can climb up the tower.

It does involve 376 stairs up a very narrow staircase and you will need to handle heights… But from someone who is scared of heights, we loved the experience and most of all the view.

Combo ticket Oude and Nieuw Kerk: €8,60. Incl tower: €13,-. Just the tower: €6,-

8. Admire the Town Hall

the town hall in delft is a symmetric building with red shutters, a tower in located right in the center of the building. the new church is just across the square — The city hall is a good example of a Dutch Renaissance Building

The ‘Delft Stadhuis‘ (Delft Town Hall) is located right across the Nieuwe Kerk. The original building was destroyed in 1618, except for the jail called the ‘Steen‘ (Stone) which was located in the tower.

At that time the achitect-sculpturer Hendrik de Keyser was in Delft. He was creating the mausoleum for the murdered Willem of Orange and was given the responsibility to rebuild the Town Hall too. Meanwhile, the murderer of Willem of Orange was kept in the tower and was sentenced to death.

9. Visit the Vermeer Center

woman standing in front of a historic building where you can find the Vermeer musuem entrance — All of Vermeer’s work is displayed here

At the Vermeer Centrum Delft, which is found in the very location where Vermeer used to live you can visually learn about Vermeer’s life and work. All his paintings (not original pieces) and the stories behind them are displayed here.

Additionally, it shows how the intellectual and cultural aspects could develop during the Golden Age, during which Vermeer was able to thrive.

vermeer painting of a woman pouring milk into a bowl — The Milkmaid

vermeer painting of a girl wearing a red hat — The Milkmaid

Vermeer is one of the most famous Dutch painters who lived his entire life in Delft during the 17th century who lived his whole life in Delft. His masterpieces are the Girl with the Pearl Earring and the Milkmaid which shows his unique technical use of light and color.

Other museums are:

Museum Paul Tétar van Elven: This 16th-century house museum is located at the Koornmarkt, which in the past was considered the most wealthy area in Delft.

Tetar van Elven bought this building in 1864 where he displayed a large art collection. In his will, he stated that his last wish was that his house would become a museum, which you can still visit today.

Museum Huis van Meerten ‘House of Meerten’: Lambert van Meerten was passionate about collecting building fragments, Delft pottery, and furniture, especially from the Dutch Golden Age. His collection became so large that he decided to build a house just to store and display it.

In his museum, you can admire his collection which he had gathered over the years.

10. Take Pictures at the East Gate

water entrance of the east gate in delft — Enter the city over water

the white bridge and entrance to delft at the east gate — Enter the city over water

In 1400 Delft had a city wall with 8 entrances. The only remaining today is the Oostpoort (East Gate). This fairytale-like gate has an entrance over land and water. The two round towers were raised in 1514.

Over the years we always cycled over this gate, never noticing how beautiful it is. Funny it was the first time we walked and finally took the time to look at it and admire its beauty.

11. Marvel porcelain art at the Royal Delft Museum

delft blue sculpture at the entrance of the factory located in a historic old building — The Royal Delft Factory is located in a beautiful historic building

The 17th-century ‘Porceleyne Fles‘ (Porcelain Bottle) Royal Delft factory is the only place where the Delft Blue is made according to old traditions.

The pottery factory is a beautiful building inside and out. Within the factory, there is also a large museum. It’s a wonderful place to learn everything about the famous Dutch Blue ceramics. An audio guide is included in the ticket.

Besides viewing the historical collections you can see craftsmen at work creating various types of Delft Blue designs ranging from traditional to modern styles.

collage of various types of delft blue ceramics: vase with traditional painting, statues of a farmers, vase with modern tattoo art, and nijntje also known as miffy — All Royal Delft Blue comes with their logo (right top). Today you find Delft Blue in all sorts of designs

In their store, you can see more handmade Delft Blue products, a wonderful place to get a simple souvenir or something unique.

Ticket Adult €15

12. Go Shopping

woman standing in front of a typical dutch souvenir shop located next to the historic delft city hall — Shop typical Dutch souvenirs

royal delft blue shop found in a beautiful historic delft building — Or go for Blue and White Porcelain…

souvenir and delft blue shop called the house of vermeer — Or go for Blue and White Porcelain…

There are enough shopping opportunities in Delft, particularly Delft Blue and other kinds of souvenirs.

You don’t need to head to their factory if you wish to buy authentic Royal Delft Ceramics. You can shop the original Royal Delft at The Royal Delft and the House of Vermeer (where Vermeer’s parents had an inn) at the Market Square

Funny enough as Dutch we didn’t realize that different factories/ateliers are making Delft blue porcelain too. The most traditional is Royal Delft, but you can find many ateliers such as De Blauwe Tulp and De Candelear at the Market Square who hand-paint their products and even provide tours.

the facade of the heinen delfts blauw concept store in delft — One of the Heinen Delfts Blauw Shops

three plates displayed on the wall with a of a dachshund in delft blue with underneath a tv screen where you can see how the ceramics are prepared and painted — One of the Heinen Delfts Blauw Shops

We took a peek at the Heinen Delfts Concept Store along the Hippolytusbuurt. It’s a large store that sells their designs, ranging from traditional to super modern. You can find things such as coffee cups you could use for your morning coffee at home.

So definitely worth a look if you are searching for a souvenir that is also useful.

If you are more into antiques, there are a couple of antique shops in Delft such as the Blauwe Roos at Markt 2. The antique store is located in a beautiful historic house with red shutters and what I think is the most beautiful corner in Delft. They sell Delftware, Tiles, and Pottery from the 17th century.

a random corner in delft with a stunning historic building, the tower of the new church, canal and houses. Looks like an open air museum — The antique store De Blauwe Roos is my favorite corner in Delft

Of course, there are many other types of stores. Particularly in the city center, you can find wonderful little shops that sell unique and beautiful things.

And if you are into flea markets, make sure you visit Delft on Thursday or Saturday.

Places To Eat In Delft

people enjoying lunch or coffee on a terrace outside a cafe in delft — On a beautiful day, terraces are packed in Delft

Delft isn’t short of places to eat. You can find restaurants, lunchrooms, and cafes on almost every corner of town.

Many are the perfect cozy place to warm up when it is cold or rainy outside, while others have a wonderful terrace (some even on a boat!) making it the perfect place to have lunch on a warm day.

a woman smiling while drinking a warm drink — Enjoying a warm chai latte

aubergine and goat cheese salad at a vegetarian salad — Enjoying a warm chai latte

Our all-time favorite is Kek, at the Voldersgracht near the Nieuwe Kerk. I think many agree because it is always busy. They have many different flavors for their lunches (vegan and vegetarian) and drinks. Plus it is just a nice place to be. We highly recommend it.

At Market Square

Go for a traditional Dutch ‘Eetcafe‘ (cafe-style restaurant) just behind the iconic Delft Town Hall such as De Waag or De Sjees where they serve typical local food such as ‘uitsmijter‘ (egg), kroket, mussels, and Kipsate (Dutch version of the Indonesian chicken sate).

Along the Canals

a boat terrace at the canal in delft — A boat terrace at Stads-Koffyhuis

If you want something more different, there are many great choices along the canals. A popular place is Stads-Koffyhuis which is only open for lunch. Here they serve tasty luxury sandwiches, and burgers but also delicious Dutch pancakes. You can find them at the Oude Delft canal, including their terrace boat.

‘t Postkantoor along Het Nieuwe Delft canal is a large yet cozy place. It’s a great place for dinner, where they have a wonderful set menu that offers a variety of dishes for two.

If you want to eat fresh fish the traditional Dutch way (they have more than just raw herring) head to the Visbanken. It isn’t a restaurant, it’s more a fishmonger that prepares fried fish, fish on bread, fish salad, and more…

outdoor terrace located at a garden of the historic museum prinsenhof in Delft — Enjoy the garden and historic atmosphere at the Prinsenhof Cafe

At Hidden Courtyard

Walking through the gates that lead to the Prinsenhof Museum we found a quiet and peaceful place in Delft. It is a lovely place to sit in the summer and to admire the beautiful historic architecture. Order some poffertjes (small Dutch pancakes) and a warm drink that is beautifully served in a Delfts Blue porcelain.

Beestenmarkt

people enjoying drinks and lunch at the beesten square in delft on the terrace — On a sunny day, terraces get full at the Beestenmarkt

The Beestenmarkt, a square surrounded by cafes and restaurants is a great place for lunch or dinner in the summer months. In the center of the square, all the restaurants have terraces so you can enjoy eating outside.

Spijshuis Dis, a Dutch specialty restaurant offers many dishes prepared with local ingredients such as smoked steamed mackerel and herring, and meat casserole in beer sauce. Vegetarian dishes are available too.

restaurant located in a old building in delft called de dis — Try out dishes with a Dutch twist at the Restaurant de Dis

You don’t need to make reservations for lunch if you don’t have a specific restaurant in mind. As for dinner, it would be wise to do so since these days everybody seems to be eating out in The Netherlands. We have had difficulty finding a place last minute as many restaurants are always full.

Places To Stay In Delft

small hotel in delft located in a old historic buildings — One of the characterful hotels in Delft

You can’t go wrong when finding a place to stay in Delft. Most hotels and B&Bs are set in historical buildings with heavy wooden beams and styled with a modern yet tasteful twist.

You can either go for something small in the heart of the city or choose big yet still have the old classy atmosphere…

Feel at home at the comfortably styled two-bedroom Apartment Mes Amis located above the French restaurant that holds the same name.

Immerse yourself in the historic beauty and luxury during a unique stay at Hotel Arsenaal Delft

After a day exploring wonderful Delft, head back to your accommodation at the B&B Lange Geer set in a 1645 historic building along the Lange Geer, one of the nicest parts of Delft City center.

Sleep in a 1591 building that was once the house of Reynier Jansz, the father of the painter Vermeer at the nicely decorated Hotel De Koophandel at the buzzing Beestenmarkt.

Enjoy the affordable bohemian chic atmosphere of the various types of rooms at Casa Julia, located just 10 minute’s walk outside the city center

Conclusion: Things to do in Delft

As you can tell we had a great day in Delft and highly recommend including it in your itinerary when visiting the Netherlands.

A day visit to Delft would be a mix of admiring Dutch historical architecture, sights, and art, learning more about the famous Delft Blue Ceramics, and enjoying the many charming coffee bars and restaurants.

It is a small town so you will not feel overwhelmed by all the things to do. Highlights of Delft are all around the corner making it the perfect place for a relaxing day away.

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