Delft, Netherlands: travel guide
Vermeer's canal town and home of blue-and-white Delftware
A perfectly preserved canal city that looks almost unchanged from the scenes painted by Johannes Vermeer, who was born and died here.
About Delft
Delft is a small canal town between The Hague and Rotterdam, and its centre looks much as it did when Johannes Vermeer lived and worked here. The market square stretches between the Gothic Nieuwe Kerk and the town hall, with the Oude Kerk a short walk away.
Things to do in Delft include browsing the pottery workshops that continue the tradition of blue-and-white Delftware, climbing the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk and following the canals past small bridges and brick houses. Cafes line the market square, and boat rides run on the canals in the warmer months.
Delft suits day-trippers and travellers who like small, photogenic places. Spring to early autumn is the best time to visit, with terraces open and the canals at their prettiest.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Nearest airport
- RTM
Last updated
Top places to visit in Delft
Delft Nieuwe Kerk Tower
royal-church · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · entry €8 (≈ ₹800)
The Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) — Delft's spectacular 15th-century Gothic church on Markt Square, with the iconic 109m climbable tower, the famous Royal Dutch tombs (William of Orange).
Markt Square Delft
historic market square · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Markt is Delft's large central market square and the heart of the city, flanked by two of the finest buildings in the Netherlands: the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church, 1381–1496) with its 109-metre tower housing the Royal Family's mausoleum,…
Royal Delft
traditional pottery factory · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Royal Delft (De Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles) is the last remaining original Delftware factory from the 17th century, founded in 1653 and the sole producer of traditional Delfts blauw hand-painted pottery still operating in Delft. The…
Oude Kerk Delft
Gothic church · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is Delft's oldest and most photographed church — a Gothic structure begun around 1246 whose distinctive 75-metre tower leans 1.96 metres from vertical due to the subsidence of the medieval peat foundations on the…
Vermeer Centrum Delft
painter museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The Vermeer Centrum Delft is a dedicated museum in the historic centre of Delft exploring the life, techniques and world of Johannes Vermeer — who was born, lived, worked and died in Delft between 1632 and 1675 and created 36 paintings of…
Delft Hague Day Trip
royal-capital · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
A day trip from Delft to The Hague — the Netherlands' spectacular royal capital with the iconic Mauritshuis (Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring), and the famous Binnenhof.
Delft Prinsenhof Museum
william-orange · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The Museum Prinsenhof Delft — the spectacular former 1403 St. Agatha Convent where William of Orange was assassinated in 1584, with the historic bullet holes still visible.
Delft Eastern Gate
medieval-gate · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Eastern Gate (Oostpoort) — Delft's spectacular 1400 medieval city gate, the only surviving gate from the original 8, with the iconic twin towers and the historic waterway.
Delft Beestenmarkt Square
historic-square · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Beestenmarkt — Delft's spectacular historic livestock market square, with the iconic Marshmallow Tree, the famous cafés and restaurants, and the lively local atmosphere.
Delft Tanthof Botanical
botanical-garden · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The TU Delft Botanical Garden — Delft's spectacular 1917 botanical garden (originally for pharmacy students), with the iconic 7,000 plant species, and the rich Dutch scientific heritage.
Delft Den Hoorn Mill
working-windmill · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The Den Hoorn Windmill — Delft's spectacular 1727 working windmill (one of the few surviving), with the historic windmill heritage, and the famous Dutch landscape views.
Things to do
- Royal Delft Factory & Museum Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 19 per person
- Delft Canal Boat Tour Sightseeing · 0.8 h · from EUR 8 per person
- Delft Old & New Church Combo Tour Cultural · 2 h · from EUR 16 per person
- Vermeer Delft Walking Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from EUR 11 per person
- Escape Room Dutch Masters Delft Adventure · 1 h · from EUR 16 per person
Day trips and tours
- Royal Delft Factory Tour & Blue Pottery Workshop 3 h · from EUR 38
Where to stay in Delft
- Historic Centre & Market Square about EUR 115 per night
Delft's intimate historic core — the Markt square with its twin churches, meandering canals, and Royal Delft workshops are all a short walk from any hotel in this zone. Boutique hotels and B&Bs in canal houses make this…
- TU Delft Campus about EUR 68 per night
Budget-friendly and youthful on the south side of the city — the TU Delft campus has excellent transport links, modern hotels and a canteen-style restaurant scene popular with students and researchers. Good base if…
Hotels
- Hotel Johannes Vermeer Delft 4-star · EUR 125 to EUR 250 per night
- Pension Wildeman Delft 2-star · EUR 65 to EUR 110 per night
- Hotel De Plataan Delft 4-star · EUR 115 to EUR 225 per night
- Hampshire Hotel Delft Centre 4-star · EUR 110 to EUR 200 per night
Where to eat
- Stads-Koffyhuis Dutch, Café · about EUR 13 per person
- Spijshuis de Dis Dutch, Traditional · about EUR 28 per person
- Locus Publicus Dutch, Belgian, Bar Food · about EUR 16 per person
- Restaurant De Vlaminckx Dutch, French, Brasserie · about EUR 32 per person
- Gist Bierbrouwerij & Restaurant Dutch, Belgian, Bar Food · about EUR 22 per person
- Stork Delft Dutch, Modern European · about EUR 35 per person
Getting to Delft
Nearest airport: Rotterdam (RTM), about 6 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.
Getting around
- Bicycle
- Walking
More in Netherlands
Frequently asked questions about Delft
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Delft?
- The highest-rated places in our Delft guide are Delft Hague Day Trip, Delft Nieuwe Kerk Tower, Markt Square Delft, Delft Prinsenhof Museum, Delft Eastern Gate.
- Where should I stay in Delft?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Delft: Historic Centre & Market Square, TU Delft Campus.
- How do I get around Delft?
- Ways to get around Delft covered in our guide: Bicycle, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Delft?
- The nearest airport to Delft has the code RTM.