Most visitors rush through Delft in tour buses, seeing only the main square before racing off to Rotterdam or The Hague. Or Paris. They’re missing what makes this city special. You really want one day in Delft, not one hour.
This is where Vermeer painted, where Delft Blue pottery is still made by hand, and where you can climb the second-tallest church tower in the Netherlands for views across the entire region.
And it’s not just the big attractions. Around every corner, every narrow alley, every tiny side street, there are countless photo opportunities. I’m not exaggerating. This city is ridiculously photogenic. You’ll find yourself stopping constantly just to capture another angle.
I was born just outside Delft, my grandparents took me here all the time. And I still love visiting whenever I can. When I cross from the railway station to the Old Canal, I get that same feeling I had as a kid – like I’m entering a different world. The city that Vermeer painted? It’s still here.
If there is one tip you take away from reading this article let it be this: Delft rewards slow exploration. The best discoveries happen when you give yourself permission to wander. This really isn’t a city you rush through – it’s one you savor.
But 99% of tourists that come here do exactly the opposite. I recommend being the 1%. Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
First Things First: Why I Don’t Like Day Tours From Amsterdam
I am going to be honest here, we Dutch are known to be very direct after all: These “Amsterdam to Delft, The Hague, and Rotterdam” tours are a waste of your time. They really are.
You’ll spend more time on a bus, than outside of it. And 45 minutes at Delft’s market square, taking a group photo, buy a magnet, or some tourist cheese, that’s not seeing Delft like at all.
So if I can give you my advice, take the direct train from Amsterdam instead – it’s one hour and runs twice an hour and is not difficult at all. Or if you prefer private transport pre-book a taxi (and save money) for door-to-door service and have time for one day in Delft to see it properly.
My Things to Do in Delft – Delft Attractions
Here’s how I recommend experiencing Delft, starting from the moment you arrive. You can easily spend an entire day here, and these ideas covers the essentials without feeling rushed. If you have less, skip the things that interest you the least.
Start at the Railway Station
Before you leave Delft station, look up at the ceiling. It shows a detailed map of medieval Delft that gives you perspective on what you’re about to see in the famous Delft blue colors.
Then step outside and there’s a working windmill on your left, trams waiting in front that can take you to the Hague, like the famous Mauritshuis museum where Vermeer’s Girl With The Pearl Earring hangs. But not yet, because first there is Delft to explore. Walk two minutes toward the historic center and you’re at those classic Dutch canals.
Take a Delft Canal Cruise
I recommend starting with this 45-minute Delft cruise because you’ll see Delft from angles impossible on foot. The first boat at 11 A.M. is usually not as busy compared to later in the day.
The live commentary isn’t just building descriptions – you’ll hear about Vermeer’s mother-in-law’s house, where the 1536 fire started, why certain bridges exist. I find it very entertaining.
The boats run April through October.
The New Church Tower: Best View in the Netherlands
The New Church houses Dutch royal tombs, so even seeing it at ground level. But if you’re up for it you climb the tower too.
It’s exhausting and narrow, 376 steps to be exact with no elevator. And it will take at least 20 minutes, not their optimistic “12 minutes.” Personally, I used every landing to catch my breath. But from the top, you see Delft spread out below – red-tiled roofs, winding canals, the market square with people the size of ants. It’s quite amazing. On clear days, you can see The Hague and Rotterdam skylines.
The viewing areas are completely open – just elbow-high railings, no safety nets. Perfect for photos if you’re comfortable with heights but you do need to know this before decide to go up.
Pro tip: Arrive at 10 AM when they open. You’ll have the narrow spiral stairs to yourself going up, there is nobody coming down. As the tour groups don’t arrive until noon.
The Old Church and Its Tilted Tower
Delft has its own leaning tower (No need to go to Pisa, Italy) – locals call it “Scheve Jan” (Crooked Jan). This 1246 church tilts noticeably and was carefully renovated in 2018 to keep it standing. You can’t climb this tower, but the interior is worth seeing.
The wooden ceiling, ancient tombstones set into the floor, and light filtering through old windows – it feels like stepping back 800 years.
You can buy an Entrance Ticket for the Old and New Churches that gets you access to both churches at a very reasonable price. I recommend getting them ahead of time, so you don’t have the hassle of buying tickets at a tickets desk.
All of Vermeer’s Work in One Place
Here’s what’s unique about this “museum”: it’s the only place where you can see all 37 Vermeer works together at actual size. They don’t have originals, they’re all high-quality reproductions, but if you think about it – the originals are scattered worldwide. In Paris you might see one, in New York maybe two. Here you see them all.
Your Vermeer centrum ticket includes an audio tour explaining Vermeer’s techniques – how he used expensive lapis lazuli for those blues, why his paintings have that special light, what daily life was like in 17th-century Delft. You’ll leave understanding why people travel across the world to see his work.
If you want to see some of the real stuff, you need to head the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam where they have a few, like the Milk Maid and the Little Street. And the Mauritshuis that I mentioned earlier when you can see the Girl with the Pearl Earring and View on Delft.
Watch Delft Blue Being Made
Delft Blue is not just something from the past. You can still visit the last surviving original Delft Blue pottery factory from the Golden Age: Royal Delft.
It’s not big, but not just a museum with displays behind glass either – it’s a working factory where artisans hand-paint every piece using 400-year-old techniques and you can watch it.
The 90-minute tour starts with history: how Dutch potters tried to copy Chinese porcelain and created something uniquely Dutch instead. Then you watch painters create those intricate patterns. The precision is incredible – one wrong brushstroke ruins hours of work.
In the showroom, you’ll see pieces that take weeks to complete. Even if you’re not buying, understanding the craftsmanship changes how you see Delft Blue everywhere else. You can get your Royal Delft Tour tickets here.
PS: Not ready to do an entire tour? There are great stores to visit like the orignal Royal Delft store on Market Square (expensive). Or Heijnen on Hippolytusbuurt 3 (more affordable).
Step Inside a 17th-Century Canal House
Amsterdam is known for its canal houses, but Delft has some fine examples too. Compared to Amsterdam not many are accessible to the public. But at the “Paul Tetar van Elven” house you go inside a Delft canal house that feels frozen in time. Paul Tetar van Elven was a 19th-century artist who collected everything – paintings, furniture, ceramics, curiosities from travels.
His house became a museum showing how wealthy Delft families lived. You walk through rooms with original furnishings, see art collections spanning centuries, understand the domestic world Vermeer painted. I highly recommend getting a ticket below and visit.
Museum Prinsenhof: Where Dutch History Was Made
I have to mention Museum Prinsenhof even though it’s currently closed for renovation until 2027. This is where Willem van Oranje (William of Orange) was assassinated in 1584 – a pivotal moment that helped create the Netherlands as we know it.
The building itself is a beautiful former convent where you can still see the actual bullet holes in the wall from the assassination. It sounds morbid, but it’s incredible to touch history like that. The museum housed an impressive collection of Delft Blue pottery, William of Orange artifacts, and local art.
Local Experiences and Food
Where to Eat and Drink Like a Local
When I need a break, I go to Stads-Koffyhuis on Oude Delft. This old-style cafe has served locals for generations. The “Delftse Donder” cake is intensely chocolatey, perfect with coffee while watching canal life passing by. I usually pop in after I arrived by train. It’s on the “Old Canal” and just minutes from the train station.
If you’re adventurous, try my favorite pancake for lunch: cheese and bacon with thick syrup and powdered sugar. Sounds wrong, but it tastes incredible.
Stadsbakkerij de Diamanten Ring has been baking since 1789. Their “Delft Bruggetje” – sweet bread shaped like city bridges, filled with apricots and hazelnuts – is perfect for walking around. During holiday season, their prize-winning pepernoten are worth seeking out.
For ice cream, Otelli on Market Square has Dutch flavors you won’t find elsewhere: Vlaflip (pudding-flavored), Engelse Drop (licorice that’s not really licorice), Stroopwafel. I always plan for two scoops and end up with four. I know, I keep dreaming of losing weights. Whoever says Dutch food is boring, needs to spend a day with me.
Every Thursday, there will be a fresh market on Market Square. If you are in Delft on a Saturday, the market is spread out over the city center along the Brabantse Turfmarkt and the Burgwal.
It’s a great local experience, where you can see how the locals get their cheese, flowers, and other groceries. You’ll amazed at the prices. One highlight on any Dutch weekly is getting a warm Stroopwafel, the famous Dutch cookie.
You want a fresh “Super Wafel” – plain, warm, with caramel still gooey inside. Nothing compares to the version made fresh on the iron. Here you get them without the inflated Amsterdam prices.
Beer Tasting in a Medieval Setting
You can book a craft beer tasting in a historic building where beer has been brewed for centuries. You’ll taste local craft beers paired with Dutch snacks, learning about Delft’s brewing traditions. The Heineken Experience in Amsterdam might be fun, but this is a lot more fun, and much better tasting beer.
The medieval stone walls and low ceilings create atmosphere you can’t get in modern bars. It’s educational but relaxed, perfect after walking all day.
Walking Tour or Solo Wandering
Exploring the city with a guide really works if you want stories behind the facades. I recommend this walking tour. Or take a look at my private tours. My availability is limited but I love taking people to Delft and surrounding places, if that’s something for you, please do get in touch with me. But this group tour is another great alternative:
But as I mentioned earlier, Delft rewards getting lost too. The best discoveries happen when you follow narrow alleys just to see where they lead, or duck through gates into hidden courtyards.
The Hidden Courtyards (Hofjes)
These inner courtyards were built for specific communities – single women, church members, guild workers. Several remain open to visitors today, and it almost feels you’re not suppose to be there:
Hofje van Almonde (Bagijnhof 10-22) is the most hidden, behind an unassuming gate. Inside, tiny houses surround a peaceful garden. It’s like finding a hidden village within the city. Is it just me that feels Harry Potter.
Het Klaeuwshofje (Oranje Plantage 58-77) and Hofje van Pauw (Paardenmarkt 54-62) each tell different stories. Walking into these courtyards feels like stepping back to when communities took care of their members this way.
Hofjes are completely free. You just need to make the time to find them.
Practical Information for Delft
Where To Stay in Delft – My Recommendations
One day in Delft might be enough to see everything you want to see, Delft also make for a great base for surrounding destinations. It’s easy to get from here to Rotterdam, and then to Kinderdijk, or The Hague. Both Rotterdam and The Hague are just minutes from Delft.
It makes such a great base because hotels are affordable here, it’s so small so easy to navigate, and you’re staying in a fairytale setting š„°. Here are my top picks:
My Top Pick: Hotel Arsenaal Delft
Hotel Arsenaal Delft is the best place to stay in Delft. It’s in a former VOC / Military building with great views and fantastic interior designs. And it’s right in old town.
Booking a night here is a splurge, but prices are still low compared to Amsterdam.
It gets a 9.8 Exceptional rating on Expedia.
Book this Hotel
Other Recommended Hotels:
Museum Hotel Delft puts you next to the Old Church in three connected historic buildings. Rooms aren’t luxurious but they’re atmospheric, and you wake up in the middle of everything.
Johannes Vermeer Hotel occupies a converted cigar factory with tasteful Vermeer theming. Good location, AC, WiFi, and excellent guest reviews.
Getting Around Delft
Don’t worry about transportation within Delft – the historic old town is small enough that you’ll only walk.
Everything I’ve mentioned is within 15-20 minutes of each other on foot. From the railway station to the farthest attraction is maybe 20 minutes. The city center is compact, pedestrian-friendly, and perfectly sized for exploring on foot.
Getting to Delft
- From Amsterdam: Direct trains every 30 minutes (1 hour).
- From Schiphol: Direct trains every 30 minutes (37 minutes).
- From Rotterdam/The Hague: Up to 12 trains per hour (10 minutes each way).
ā¤· You can read all about how to buy train tickets in the Netherlands in my article here.
If you prefer the comfort of a car and door-to-door service, for example when you travel with luggage, a pre-booked taxi is also a great idea. It’s a lot cheaper than just calling a taxi a travel with the meter on. Pre-booking a taxi allows you a fixed lower price.
ā¤· Pre-book your taxi to Delft here.
Frequently Asked Questions Visit Delft
How much time do I need in Delft?
A full day lets you get to experience most of Delfts attractions. Take a canal cruise, visit museums, see the churches, and enjoy local cafes without rushing. Half a day works for highlights, but you’ll miss the relaxed atmosphere that makes Delft special.
Is the New Church tower climb in Delft worth it?
Yes, but know what you’re getting into. You really have to be fit to do it. It’s 376 steps, and no elevator. It takes most people 15-20 minutes. The view spans the entire region – you can see other cities on clear days. Arrive early, 10 AM is best, to avoid crowds on narrow stairs.
How are Delft’s canal cruises different from Amsterdam’s?
Quieter, more intimate, focused on local stories rather than general tourist information. You’ll learn about Vermeer’s family, historic events, see architectural details impossible from street level. Also the city is just very different from Amsterdam. The view of the Old Church for example is best from the water So definitely book a canal tour in Delft, it’s a also a nice break for your feet.
Are there real Vermeer paintings in Delft?
No, but the Vermeer Centrum Delft is worth visiting because it’s the only place to see all his works together at actual size. You’ll understand his techniques and the Delft he painted, which you’re walking through.
Why visit the Delft Blue factory instead of just seeing it in shops?
If you’re interested in Delft Blue it really cool to watch it being made by hand using 400-year-old techniques. Seeing the precision required – one wrong brushstroke ruins hours of work – changes how you view every piece. Plus you learn why Dutch potters developed this style. I recommend getting a ticket for the Royal Delft tour if you’re interested in Delft Blue.
Delft really is a city that stays with you. The same things that inspired Vermeer are still there to see, the lively student vibe adds live to the city. The restaurants and cafe live is just fantastic, and that feeling of stepping into a different world never gets old.
Take your time here, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself planning a return visit before you even leave.
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