Romantic Delft is a dazzling canal-ringed city in the Netherlands that can be explored in a day and here’s how…
Oude Delft Canal and surrounding canals
Start your day by exploring the Oude Delft Canal and also surrounding canals that flank idyllic streets. Similar to Amsterdam’s canals but on a smaller scale, find solace wandering around the beautiful and scenic Delft canals.
Enter the Old City from Oude Delft Canal, the oldest canal and the first in Delft that dates back to 1100, when Delft was founded.
Although Delft can be a little touristy, this city rates highly as a must-see place to visit.
Oostpoort (Eastern Gate)
A landmark in Delft, Oostpoort’s striking Gothic eastern gate dates back to the 1400s.
Only a few minutes walk from Markt Square, the arch and twin spires date back to the 15th century and are all that remains of the fortifications.
De Nieuwe Kerk
The new church (De Nieuwe Kerk) in Markt Square – Delft’s epicentre – is famous not just for its imposing stature, but for housing the royal crypt of the members of the House of Orange-Nassau.
The Nieuwe Kerk dates back to the 14th Century and you can climb the tower’s 376 steps.
Markt Square
Bursting with cafes, restaurants, markets, and great shops, spend several hours here taking a break to just people-watch and relax or to observe the culture.
Oude Kerk
The Gothic Protestant church Oude Kerk or Old Church is famous for its slight lean to one side and is also known as Scheve Jan (“Skewed John”).
If you’re feeling energetic, take a climb in the 75-metre stunning brick tower.
Rita, a kind reader also advises in this post’s comments below, that locals also call this church “Oude Jan” (Old John). Evidently, it seems that the old church has invited a plethora of names over the years.
Vermeer Centrum Delft
Although Delft is famous for ceramic Delft Blue pottery, which I didn’t purchase, Delft is also renowned as the home of Dutch baroque painter, Johannes Vermeer.
If you haven’t heard of Vermeer born in 1632 and dying in his early 40s, think of the beautifully haunting painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring. This TEDEd video explains why this intriguing painting is a masterpiece.
The Vermeer Centrum Delft is home to this captivating painting and seeing this treasure in the flesh is a must. Learn about Vermeer on a guided tour or just stroll around numerous rooms and immerse yourself in the life of Johannes Vermeer, even discovering his secret love messages. Photography is not allowed.
Getting there
From Amsterdam’s Centraal Station, it’s an easy and comfortable hour’s train journey until you reach Delft Centraal. And, if you time it right, the trip is under an hour on the Inter-City Railway.
The Man in Seat 61 has an excellent detailed schedule for travelling anywhere in Europe and beyond.
Allow a good long day to explore Delft or if you have time, why not stay for a couple of days as there is quite a lot to see in this alluring city.
Strapped for time, as we flew from Australia to Amsterdam for a one-day exhibition and with all the 2-week accommodation pre-booked, only one day was left to explore the gorgeous city of Delft.
Check back next week for another lovely day trip from Amsterdam, but this time venturing to the pretty fishing town of Volendam with a Dutch friend we first met in Chile last year. And, then bumped into along the way several times more in South America.
Visit Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts at Image Earth Travel.
Image Earth Travel 
I definitely want to go to Delft and it’s not that far from where my friend Chris lives in Rotterdam. I am going to Rotterdam in April, so may take a day trip there. Love all the buildings and canals 🙂 x
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It’s such a lovely area of Holland and I definitely return.
For some reason, your comment landed in my trash folder. WP has been doing that to legitimate comments lately and some people that have been following my site for years are also thrown in the trash – it’s so annoying.
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very annoying. Hope you sort it x
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Me too!
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You beat me there. Never been to Delft. We traveled little in Holland. all my parents did the week-ends was go to auction rooms and buy old furniture and old Dutch painters. I still have most of the paintings. 😉
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Ha, ha, have to beat you somewhere!
That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m sure those paintings must be worth a bit or more as sentimental value. 😉
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You beat me by a long distance? How many countries? twice as many as I have?
And yes, some of the paintings are worth some money. But they’re part of my history.
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Ah but you’ve lived a long time in many more countries than I have, think on the last count it was around 62. 😉
Of course, part of your history is much more important than the dollar value. Hope you’ve had a great weekend! My last 4 days at work from tomorrow…it’s getting real now and we’ve been packing up our house this weekend.
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I think all approaches to countries bring something. Once you have travelled a bit, it only takes a “minute” to pick up the local stuff. Like in London. Did you know they drive on the left-hand side of the road? Unbelievable… 😉
You going to rent your house while you’re away?
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Ha, ha, the POMs are a bit like us then (or is that we’re a bit like them?), driving on the left side of the road…quelle horreur!
Yes, but to a friend so hoping it gets looked after…that’s the plan anyway as we’ve done a lot of renovations in the last 3 years and would hate to have it trashed. Fingers crossed!
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Quelle horreur indeed. 😉
And yes 🤞
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Deft touch on the photos. Or is that Delft touch?
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Ha, ha, or is it the Deftones? Thanks, Dave!
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The church on the last picture is the Westerkerk in Amsterdam and has no connection with Delft.
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Thank you so much Rita for researching that! I’ll move the photo to my Amsterdam. Did another quick online search but still can’t find the name of this church.
Are you a local in Delft?
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Yep, I am a local in Delft
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Fabulous and I really appreciate your feedback on Delft! You’re lucky to live in such a gorgeous city.
I visited in 2012 so my mind is a little rusty. 😉
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What a picturesque town! I’d love to see it.
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It definitely is Rebecca. Any travel plans in 2023?
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Not this year. Hopefully next one!
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Ah well, something to look forward to in 2024.
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Not the New Church but the Old Church is Scheve Jan (“Skewed John”) because as you wrote “famous for its slight lean to one side”
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Hi Rita
Thank you for the pick-up and appreciate you taking the time to comment. I’ve edited the post now.
Many thanks again!
Nilla
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We usually call it “Oude Jan” Old John
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Hi Rita
Great and thanks again. I’ve also added this name to the post. 😉
Would you know the name of the church in the last photo of this post? I can’t remember the name and haven’t found it online.
Thank you!
Nilla
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I don’t know the church in the last picture, I don’t think this one is in Delft
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Thanks, Rita, but I sorted it a while ago in Delft, so not sure where this is now.
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In the middle part of the tower you can see the coat of arms of Amsterdam (XXX (vertical)). I think it is the Westerkerk.
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Yes, maybe that’s where it is but until I can confirm this, I’ll leave it in this post. I can always move to my Amsterdam post. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
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Thanks for this tour of a city I’ve never even heard of!
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Hi Diana
My pleasure and thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment.
Cheers
Nilla
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EXACTLY what I was thinking, Diana!
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Great and thanks, Diana!
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Your photographs make me wish I could travel again. The black and white is terribly effective! In so many ways I wish I had remained in Europe but there wasn’t really a choice. I have to remember the good things that came of it all and be glad I can access so much information online…such as your wonderful blog! Thank you.
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What lovely feedback Carolyn, thank you!
Why couldn’t you stay in Europe longer? Visas? Other reasons?
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No. I am British. Born in London but Dad took a job with UNESCO and off we went to Cambodia, leaving my brother (3 yrs older) in boarding school. I ended up in boarding school first in Vietnam and then in Cambodia but things were getting complicated so after 6 years out there I got sent back and had 2 miserable years in a British convent school. After which I got sent to live with my mother’s sister in NY. Loooonnggg story!!!! I have dual citizenship. Would have gone back but I have no ties there. My earlier blog posts describe a lot of it. I am happy to have experienced Asia back then.
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Ah, that’s right, I’m sure I’ve read that somewhere on your site.
Wow, that sounds like quite a disruptive childhood but very interesting and the exposure to different cultures would have been amazing. I’ll have to check out your older posts.
Such an interesting upbringing.
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