Delft: The hidden gem of the Netherlands

Delft is perhaps the definitive Dutch city; small but incredibly rich in history, culture and art.

Famous as the birthplace and inspiration of the painter Johannes Vermeer, and the home of ‘Delft Blue’ pottery, there is so much to see and things to do in Delft. With its canals, museums and beautiful architecture, in many ways it feels like a mini-Amsterdam, but with fewer crowds – perfect for a day trip or weekend break in the Netherlands. 

What is Delft famous for?

In the Middle Ages Delft was one of the most prominent cities in the Netherlands, and its importance remained through the period of Spanish rule in the 16th and 17th centuries. The association of Delft with the Dutch royal family began when William of Orange, the hero of Dutch independence, was assassinated in the Prinsenhof (now a museum of art and history) in 1584. Delft continued to prosper into the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century. It had trading links throughout the world, like many Dutch cities of the time, and grew rich on the porcelain and cloth industries.

Delft Town Hall in the Markt

Drive to Delft with LeShuttle

It takes around three and a half hours to drive to Delft from LeShuttle's Calais terminal. Take the A16 from Calais towards Dunkirk, and then the E40 and E17 through Belgium via Ghent and Antwerp. From the Dutch border it is a drive of around an hour. Delft is situated between Rotterdam and the Hague in south Holland, so close to both larger cities that it could be a suburb of either, but Delft is more than worthy of a separate visit. 

Get more tips for driving to the Netherlands with our dedicated Dutch driving guide.

Day trips from Delft city

If you’re spending more than just a few days in Delft, you may want to explore the wider area of South Holland. You won’t be short of ideas either, as Delft is conveniently located to so many Dutch delights. You’re less than 30 minutes drive from The Hague, with its beaches, museums and history, and even closer to Rotterdam, the second city in the Netherlands, full of striking modern architecture and vibrant bars and restaurants. If you’re in Delft in the spring, the Keukenhof Tulip Festival is only 45 minutes drive away. 

Top things to see and do in Delft 

Discover Delft’s art and history

Johannes Vermeer is Delft’s most famous son, but during his lifetime (1632-1675) he was barely known for his artwork. In fact he lived in relative obscurity as an art dealer and innkeeper, and it was only in the 19th century that his paintings of quiet domestic scenes, such as Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid, began to be more widely appreciated. 

Approaching the city from the south along the canal, the scene is more industrial than in Vermeer’s day, but it’s easy to find the spot where the artist would have painted his View of Delft. You can also walk the pretty canal lined lanes of Delft’s old town and find the location of The Little Street, the only other Vermeer painting to survive of an outdoor scene.

Walk the cobbled lanes of Delft, like Vermeer 

Vermeer Centrum Delft

The museum dedicated to Vermeer’s life and work gives all the information you need about the ‘master of light’ and the time in which he painted. The Vermeer Centre Delft building is located on the site of the painters guild that Vermeer once chaired, so you are literally walking in his footsteps. There are reproductions of every one of his paintings – only 35 in total – as well as the stories behind them. Visitors get an insight into Vermeer’s working methods, materials and techniques, and his experiments with light, colour and perspective. 

Royal Delft Museum 

Delft’s other most famous export is their blue and white pottery, Delft Blue or Delftware, which has been in production in the city since the 17th century. The most famous and highly sought after period is from circa 1640-1740, when a shortage in Chinese porcelain boosted the popularity and creativity of Delft Blue. The last remaining company to manufacture this distinctive style, Royal Delft, operates from a factory that is also a museum. You can take part in workshops and paint your own Delft Blue tile!

Visit Delft’s iconic landmarks

The Nieuwe Kerk, Markt, Delft

Although the Museum Prinsenhof is currently closed for renovation until the end of 2026, there are plenty of other historic attractions to visit in Delft. 

The old town

Canals run like arteries through Delft, with the main streets linked by quaint bridges and squares in the oldest parts of the city centre. You’ll think you’re in Little Amsterdam, judging by the cyclists and the number of inviting small bars and cafés. The Markt is the central square, home to the City Hall, the Nieuwe Kerk and the site of numerous markets. Thursday and Saturday are the days to be here if you can, when the Markt hosts a famous fresh food market, as well as flower and antiques markets. 

Oude Kerk 

Not much older in truth than the Nieuwe Kerk, the ‘old church’ was founded in 1246 and is instantly recognisable for its leaning tower, caused by subsidence from the surrounding canals. Because of this you’re not allowed to climb the tower, nicknamed ‘Scheve Jan’ (‘Crooked John’), but inside the church you’ll find Vermeer’s tomb and some stunning stained glass windows. A combined ticket gives admission to both the Oude and the Nieuwe Kerk.

Nieuwe Kerk

Delft’s ‘New Church’ is perhaps not as new as you might expect. It actually dates from the 14th century, only slightly later than the Oude Kerk, but has huge national importance. Ever since William of Orange was buried here in the 16th century, it has been a resting place for Dutch kings and queens. A significantly illuminated feature in Vermeer’s View of Delft, showing support for the House of Orange, the church has the second tallest church tower in the Netherlands, with 376 steps to the top. 

Oostpoort

The Oostpoort 

The last remaining of Delft’s medieval gates, the Oostpoort is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Built around 1400 in an area that would have been full of mills and boats laden with goods, it helped to defend the city from invasion. The two Gothic brick towers certainly evoke the spirit of the Dutch Golden Age, even though they are now a private residence. People enjoy walking over the canal and under the towers into the old town. 

Explore Delft’s canals and green spaces

Cycle along the cosy canals

You’ll see bikes everywhere in Delft – as you might expect from a Dutch city where so many of the streets are cobbled and narrow, and where there is a sizeable student population. One of the best ways to get about is to hire a bike from the railway station or Markt and cycle along the canals and over the bridges. You’ll feel like a local! 

Glide through Delft’s canals on a boat tour

A popular way to experience Delft is from the water, as so many people would have done in days gone by. Boat tours of the Delft canals are run by several companies, and you’ll get a guide who will explain more about the history of the city as you pass its famous landmarks. Some will even stop at the Royal Delft Museum and pick you up again after your visit! 

Take a boat tour through the Delft canals

Unwind in Delft’s botanical gardens

Just across the canal from the Oostpoort is Delft’s Hortus Botanicus, a botanical garden that is run by the Delft University of Technology but open to the public from the spring to the autumn. It’s a peaceful place to wander around and have a coffee, and the university runs guided tours if you want to know more about the plant collections. 

Visit Delft with LeShuttle

Delft is truly a hidden Dutch gem, and you’ll love discovering more of what it has to offer. Get your road trip to the Netherlands underway with a 35-minute crossing on LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais.