Delft

Delft, a canal-ringed city in the western Netherlands, is known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, hand-painted blue-and-white pottery. In its old town, the medieval Oude Kerk is the burial site of native son and Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer. Once the seat of the royal House of Orange, the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk houses the family's tombs and overlooks Delft's lively market square.
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Top attractions in Delft

Nieuwe Church
1. Nieuwe Church
4.6
(3800)
Church
Sights & Landmarks
Cross-shaped Protestant place of worship, built from 1393 to 1655, with a crypt holding royal tombs.
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...the building of this church is very beautiful and impressive for anyone who sees it. It is truly a blessing to be able to see up close the old church building that began construction in 1381. This church is located in Delft's market square and opposite the city hall (stadhuis)..
Visiting the Nieuwe Kerk was a highlight of our trip to Delft! This stunning Gothic church in the heart of Markt Square is steeped in history, with the tomb of William the Silent and the royal crypt being truly impressive. The climb up the 109-meter tower was challenging but so worth it for the breathtaking views of Delft and beyond—on a clear day, you can even see Rotterdam! The stained-glass windows and the serene interior added to the experience. The audio guide was informative and made the history come alive. Highly recommend for anyone interested in Dutch heritage or architecture!
Nice church , interesting history. Lead glasses are very fin. The walk up the tower was good. Short of 400 steps. Great view. Worth a visit . Come early
The church is most famous as the burial place of William of Orange, the “Father of the Dutch Nation,” who was laid to rest here after his assassination in 1584. Since then, over 40 members of the Dutch royal family have been interred in the private crypt beneath the floor, sealed by a 5-tons marble. If you look closely at the marble tomb in the middle you’ll notice a small dog carved at his feet. It's his dog which refused to eat and passed away not long after his assassination, it also symbolizes loyalty and faithfulness. The tower is 109 meters tall, the 2nd tallest in the Netherlands, has 3 color as 3 period of construction: brick, limestone, and sandstone from Bentheim which turns grey after exposure with acidic rain
Historic important church in delft Dutch Royals are buried there. It ia on the market square in delft. Another beautiful setting in delft.
Beautiful Windows, lots of house of orange history. A slightly tough climb (350+) steps in a tight turning stairway, with one way up and the same way down! But the views!!!
Little pricey but you get entree to old church as well wity same ticket. Climbing up the tower, absolutely worth it!
If you’re visiting the Netherlands, I highly recommend stopping by Nieuwe Kerk in Delft. One of the highlights of this historic church is climbing its narrow and steep stairs to the top, where you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire city. From up there, you can see Delft’s charming canals, rooftops, and surrounding landscapes, making it a truly unforgettable experience. However, keep in mind that the climb can be challenging—it’s best suited for those who don’t have knee problems, aren’t afraid of heights, and are comfortable navigating narrow spaces. Tip: Try to visit during off-peak hours. The stairway is quite tight, and when it gets crowded, it can be tricky to move past people coming up or down. During busy times, it might take longer to enjoy the view at the top since you have to wait for others to descend. Overall, it’s an amazing experience, and I highly recommend it if you’re in Delft!
Royal Delft
2. Royal Delft
4.5
(5459)
Museum
Brasserie
Still in operation, this famous 17th-century earthenware factory features a museum & guided tours.
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This is a very nice museum to learn the art and history of blue pottery in Netherlands. This takes you back to time when it started and how it evolved. There are variety of master pieces of tiles, pots, decors and many more. There is small factory as well. You can also see the artists live handpainting and explaining the process. If you want to join a workshop then book your ticket in advance. Very nice small museum filled with rich history.
The Royal Delft museum is a really nice place for a short day-time program if you're visiting Delft. There is an exhibition from the techniques used in the process to modern art pieces. The building has a beautiful garden in the middle, which was unfortunately closed. We spent about an hour in the museum. They also have a sizable gift shop, where you can place orders or buy already-made pieces. They currently sell really beautiful christmas ornaments for 20-25€.
From its history on how the Dutch people copied the idea of blue pottery from Chinese, the guided tour on how the designs are made on porcelain with charcoal and chemical reaction gives blue colour was interesting. Overall it was short but nice guided tour and fun to learn. The place is worth exploring if you are visiting Delft and interested in blue pottery. There is a nice souvenir shop with lots of varieties if you want to purchase.
Visited *Royal Delft* as part of a tour group, and it was an incredible experience! The demo showcasing their iconic hand-painted ceramic work was absolutely awesome—mind-boggling to see the skill and precision that goes into each piece. The artistry behind their famous blue-and-white Delftware is truly remarkable. The tour was engaging, and the museum beautifully highlights the history and craftsmanship. A must-visit for anyone near Delft! Highly recommend!
The museum and factory tour really gives you a sense of how much skill and craftsmanship goes into everything they make and gives you a sense for the scale of their history. Well with spending an hour or two doing this and purchasing gifts and souviniers. Dress in layers it's actually not that warm but warm enough that you will not be happy in a sweater!
If you’re into pottery, tableware, or anything to do with fine china, Royal Delft is an absolute must! The museum has such a rich and fascinating history, and it’s the perfect size to explore without feeling like you’re in a marathon. You’ll learn all about how their iconic Delft pottery is made, and it’s honestly so cool to see it all come to life. Before visiting, I bought both the museum ticket and their high tea package in advance on their website — super easy and totally worth it. The bonus? On our way there (we took the tram from Den Haag), we accidentally stumbled upon the actual spot that inspired Vermeer’s “View of Delft.” There’s even a replica of the painting right there so you can compare it to the real view Vermeer saw back in the day. How amazing is that?? Such a serendipidous find that made our Delft experience even better. 💙 By the time we got to the museum, we were—surprise, surprise—already hungry 😂. We showed up way too early for our high tea reservation, but the staff was so kind and told us to come back in 15 minutes while they set up a table for us. Perfect excuse to “tour” the gift shop! And wow, that gift shop is dangerous for anyone with limited luggage space. They have everything — vases, Christmas ornaments, gorgeous tableware, adorable Miffy collections, and all sorts of Delft blue goodies. I wanted to buy everything. But alas, since this was near the end of our trip (and I still had a week in Amsterdam to go), I had to restrain myself. Next time, though? I’m coming back for the tulip vases. Sooooo pretty. And the Miffy figurines. And the Dutch houses. Ugh, the list goes on! Once I finished my ooh-ing and aah-ing, we headed back to the café for high tea, and our table was ready. The staff was so lovely — they explained every sweet and savory treat on our tiered tray, and the tea selection was solid. The food itself? About a 3 out of 5 if we’re grading just on taste. It’s not like a fancy hotel afternoon tea, but it was perfectly nice. Plus, the atmosphere makes up for it — there’s a beautiful garden where you can sit outside, or cozy indoor seating with big windows looking out. We chose inside (it was too chilly for us desert people ❄️). After tea, we did our self-guided tour through the museum and factory area, where you can actually watch artisans painting and crafting pottery by hand. It’s mesmerizing! I had no idea that Delftware originally took major inspiration from Chinese porcelain — especially the classic blue-and-white style. They even show side-by-side examples of early Dutch copies and the original Chinese pieces, and you can really see how the Dutch designs evolved over time into something uniquely their own. All in all, Royal Delft is 100% worth visiting. The museum is fascinating, the staff is warm and welcoming, and the café is a lovely spot to rest your feet (high tea optional, but fun if you have time). Prices were pretty reasonable too — high tea was €63 (about $73 USD) for two people, and museum tickets were €34 (around $40 USD) for two. Highly recommend — and don’t forget to save some luggage space for those Delft souvenirs! 💙
Fantastic museum charting the history of Delft Blue pottery, with the factory a particular highlight. Enjoyed the architectural tiles more than anything else, and obviously a great shop.
They have museum, gift shop, cafe, and workshop! See their website to reserve a workshop spot or museum visit. Would recommend to do the workshop, price varies per class (not student friendly, make sure to come with family or have a job to book).
Beestenmarkt
3. Beestenmarkt
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Old Church
4. Old Church
4.5
(2507)
Reformed church
Sights & Landmarks
13th-century church best known for its 75m-tall leaning brick tower & its 9-tonne bell.
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An impressive church both in terms of its size and its beauty. It also serves as an important element in Delft's history, an aspect that you can read during your visit as it is presented in depth on the info pannels. I swear it leaves nothing out and you'll also find some well known personalities entombed here! Worth at least an hour of your time.
The church dates back to the 1200s and you can’t miss its quirky leaning tower, it really tilts. Inside feels peaceful, with colorful stained glass and a sense of old Dutch history, famous for graves of painter Johannes Vermeer and naval hero Piet Hein. When I visited they were renovating Piet's tomb and found out a secret painting behind it so it's a very special occation to come see it. You should visit the Nieuwe Kerk at the central square first because the ticket covers visiting for both churches
Our leaning tower of Delft. An absolutely impressive church, It also plays an important role in Delft’s history, which you can easily explore through the detailed information panels inside. I visited during winter, and if you’re here in November, December, or January, I highly recommend seeing the Luminiscence light show. It’s a truly mesmerising experience like stepping into a fairytale. Just incredible! ✨
Oude Kerk (Oude Jan) - a Gothic Protestant church in Delft. Its most recognizable feature is a 75-meter-high brick tower that leans about two meters from the vertical. The church is open to visitors and there is a lot of information about the interior.
Always a beautiful place to visit from time to time
This is the best church to visit. The information they gave you is incredible! You can spend hours in the church discovering the whole, long history of this incredible church. Also, look from outside, the church is tilted, really cool. The church is rhe resting place for over 400 super rich people from that time. Don't forget to walk the tower!
Architecturally interesting and full of history it stuns almost as much as it’s predecessor. See some famous gravestones, including Vermeer, and lovely stained glass. Admission price reasonable when bundled.
Very reasonably priced with €10 to do the new and old church and tower in new church. When we arrived there was the organ playing, not just classical music but queen bohemian rhapsody! Lots of info inside
Vermeer Centrum Delft
5. Vermeer Centrum Delft
4.3
(2295)
Museum
Art center
Small museum dedicated to artwork of Johannes Vermeer, with paintings, audio tours & a light studio.
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Small but very good museum. Vermeer’s life and artwork was explained and exhibited in this interactive museum. Lift access to all floors and the museum is accessible to wheelchair users. The information about Delft, the time when Vermeer lived, his associates and influencers were presented using a range of media. Many of the displays were interactive, using your listening device, touch screens and places stop and explore the detail of the paintings. No original art all Vermeer Veneers (pun intended)
Definitely a highlight in my life - one of those things I am glad I did. Vermeer is definitely the master painter of light and I was very impressed. The fact that the paintings are not original does not detract anything from the marvel thereof. I found the fact that one can get a glimpse of all of his works at once, really impressive and insightful. Definitely a must-visit stop whenever you are in Delft.
We visited on a week day and were able to buy tickets at the museum. Cute little museum that shows copies of all of Vermeer's paintings and highlighting his techniques in mastering light and symbolism. I would say you could see everything in 2 hours
It's a pity that none of the original paintings are exhibited here. I was surprised to learn how many are in the possession of museums around the world — and it's regrettable that so few remain in the Netherlands. That said, the exhibition offers a solid overview of the artist's work. Even more impressive is the analysis of his technique, which is both insightful and educational. I would especially recommend this place to art students, as it provides a valuable perspective on his creative paint process, i. e. primarily analysis of light effects. The museum shop, however, was a bit of a letdown — quite pricey, with not much of real interest on offer.
Definitely worth stopping by when you are in Delft. Entrance is free and they have an amazing shop with everything Vermeer. 3 stories with exhibitions of all his works (copies) with a little bit of history of Delft.
Very interesting Museum (€9 student) :-) While the paintings displayed are not original (it would be impossible as they are spread around the world and worth a pretty penny), they are faithful reproductions in size and light. The audioguide then provides all the necessary details to understand more about Vermeer and his technique. Different floors have different themes: from the history and paintings, to the secret messages and meanings and then the modern day variations or restoration precess. So at the end I would definitely recommend this museum :-)
Helpful staff, excellent audio guide. Delft is trying to make the most of its Vermeer connection, which is difficult as his house has been knocked down and none of his paintings remain in the town. This is a really good exhibition to show his life in Delft and the subjects and techniques of his paintings
Very interesting Center, a lot of information on how Vermeer painted and practical explanations on his use of light. The audio guide is for free and available in many languages. They have real size reproductions of all known paintings from Vermeer, which allows you to calmly examine them and learn more about the details and the technique he used. Totally recommended if you’re visiting Delft!
Markt
6. Markt
Sights & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Other notable attractions

Museum Prinsenhof Delft
Temporarily Closed
Museum
Art museum
Museum on William of Orange & the creation of the Dutch Republic, plus 17th-century arts & crafts.
Oostpoort
Historical landmark
Sights & Landmarks
1400s city gate & riverside landmark featuring twin Gothic spires & a brick archway.
Stadhuis Delft
City Hall
Sights & Landmarks
Restored 17th-century hall with portrait paintings from the period & a medieval Gothic belfry tower.
Delftse Hout
Campground
Nature & Parks
Hugo Grotius Statue
Sculpture
Sights & Landmarks
Delft Windmill de Roos
Mill
Sights & Landmarks
TU Delft Hortus Botanicus
Temporarily Closed
Botanical garden
Nature & Parks
Botanical garden run by University of Delft, with arboretum, tropical greenhouse & flower gardens.
Museum Paul Tétar van Elven
Museum
Historic Sites
Antique paintings, porcelain & furniture displayed in the former home of the namesake artist.
Maria van Jessekerk
Catholic church
Sights & Landmarks
Madame de Berry's Hidden House
Theater production
Museums

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Monthly temperature highs and lows in Delft
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