I will tell you 11 reasons to visit Delft, why it is worth visiting Delft, Netherlands .
You may have never heard of the small Dutch city of Delft , however, it is very famous in Holland . It used to be the third largest, and richest, Dutch city nine centuries ago.
Sometimes the best destinations are not the best known. Little hidden gems where none of your friends have been (yet!) can be a big surprise !
Delft is very easy to get to from major Dutch cities. Considering how small the country is, imagine: Delft is just 1 hour by train from Amsterdam , 14 minutes from Rotterdam, and just 10 minutes from The Hague .
If you are going to travel to the Netherlands for a few days, put it on your list, you won’t regret it and consider this 11 reasons to visit delft my greeting gifts!
1. The Best Aerial View of Holland
The magnificent New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) is not exactly new: it was built in 1381.Its 109 m high tower is the second tallest in the country and offers a spectacular view of the historic canals , streets and rooftops of Delft, all the way to The Hague, which can be seen on the horizon. It is by far the best view of the tower I have seen in the “flat country”.
The New Church is the burial place of most members of the Dutch royal family and houses an interesting museum .
2. Delft is one of the Most Charming Cities in Holland
Delft is like a miniature of Amsterdam, but more charming, more untouched by mass tourism, it feels more Dutch. It’s small enough to be seen in a day or two, depending on which museums you want to visit. It is perfectly walkable, with the best places located close to each other. In addition to the Old Church and New Church museums, there is also the Vermeer Centre, the Prinsenhof (Princes’ Court) museum, Royal Delft and the historic windmill.
The city never fails to impress visitors, with the beauty of its narrow streets along the canals and its pleasant atmosphere; It is a pleasure to be here and making list of 11 reasons to visit Delft is my honor!
3. Perfectly Preserved Medieval Houses, Streets and Canals
There are extensive parts of Delft that are untouched by modernity. Its beautiful medieval and Renaissance urban fabric has been completely preserved. At night, when the city center is illuminated by dim lamps, you will feel like you are traveling back in time and coming delft you will witness 11 reasons to visit Delft is not enough to express the joy to be here!
4. The Medieval Leaning Tower of the Old Church of Delft
From some points, especially when approaching from both sides of the beautiful Oude Delft canal street, you have the impression that the tower will fall at any moment. But it still holds up (at least at the time of publishing this article). One of the best coffee shops in the city, Stads Koffyhuis (address: Oude Delft 133) offers a chocolate coffee called The Delft Slanting Cup, in a specially designed slanted cup delicious and curious!
The Old Church is a burial place of some of the most important Dutch, including heroes, nobles, artists and scientists, such as the painter Johannes Vermeer (1675) and the inventor of the microscope Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1723).
5. Vermeer Museum
Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) was one of the most appreciated painters of the Dutch Golden Age . Not only was he born in Delft, he apparently almost never left his hometown. Check out Vermeer Centrum Delft (address: Voldersgracht 21) for an extensive explanation of the times he lived in, the influences he was under and, most interestingly, his masterful use of light in all its shapes and colors . The museum does not own any original paintings by Vermeer. Vermeer’s most famous paintings are exhibited in the Mauritshuis in The Hague (“Girl with a Pearl Earring”) and in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
6. Delft Blue Pottery
Dutch porcelain is called Delftware or Delft Blue . In any Dutch city where you see delicate porcelain painted indigo blue with elaborate scenes and figures, its origins are almost always found in Delft. Delftware was one of the country’s main trade and export products in the 17th and 18th centuries. There is the Royal Delft Factory Museum active since 1653 (address: Rotterdamseweg 196).
7. It has the Best Windmill – Free
The beautiful name of the Delft windmill is De Roos (Rose ) and it is a monument from 1679 . It is the only remaining windmill of the 18 that existed in Delft since the 14th century. You can see its outline as you exit the impressive main train station, at the far end of the main street in Delft, Phoenixstraat (address: Phoenixstraat 112).
The windmill is several stories high and the great thing about this is that you are free to explore it on your own. The owners keep it open for free and are often willing to teach you how to operate the “sails” of the windmill. Don’t miss the terrace on one of the highest floors, it has a beautiful view over the city center and the main street. The windmill shop sells fresh pastas and bread made from their own ground flour, and some nice souvenirs, like windmill shapes for making cookies.
8. Charming Market every Saturday
If you want to experience a truly Dutch atmosphere, come to town on a market day! There are markets every Thursday and Saturday, but the one on Saturday is much more picturesque. Along the historic canals and alleys, street vendors open their stalls with all kinds of second-hand vintage items, from used clogs (Dutch wooden shoes) to Delftware sets, from antique ice skates to metal cups. There are many interesting items to buy as souvenirs, but above all the atmosphere is great, there is loud music, a happy crowd and tasty cookies, such as stroopwafels.
9. Cow Statue in the Old Livestock Market Square
There are several beautiful historic squares in Delft, located close to each other. The main square is the charming Grote Markt, which hosts a market on Thursdays. Then there’s Brabantse Turfmarkt, which hosts a flower and food market on Saturday. The most charming, however, is Beestenmarkt . This pretty, tree-shaded square was used as a cattle market, and there’s a clear sign of it: a cool statue of a psychedelic-colored cow with milk jug “heels” on a (patterned) cow skin pedestal. My favorite Dutch sculpture. Epic. Beestenmarkt becomes an entertainment center in the evening and on weekends throughout the day. Some of Delft’s best cafes and restaurants are located here.
10. The Pubs, Bars and Restaurants in Delft are Spectacular.
My favorite Delft dishes include a dessert served in a clog , you know, a wooden Dutch shoe; you will get it at Spijshuis De Dis (address: Beestenmarkt 36). It is also one of the best restaurants serving Dutch food in the city. The dishes are elaborate and full of surprises.
For more Dutch food, go to t’ Postkantoor (address: Hippolytusbuurt 14), it serves amazing dinners, but be sure to book in advance.
Then, there’s the best apple pie in town, with a huge dollop of whipped cream, at the beautiful café Kobus Kuch (address: Beestenmarkt 1), with a little unicorn jumping over one of its windows.
The most charming pub is the Belgisch Bier Café Belvédère (address: Beestenmarkt 8), with an extensive collection of the best Belgian beers in the world .
A pub located in a truly unique setting is Eetcafé De Ruif (address: Kerkstraat 22-24) with its charming little pontoon terrace overlooking the canal.
11. Delft is a Always Lively City
Apart from market days (Thursday and Saturday) and local holidays, Delft never seems crowded, but maintains a lively and dynamic atmosphere. If you feel overwhelmed by the crowds in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you can breathe here, it’s definitely relaxing . It never feels boring, there are so many places to go and at night restaurants, pubs and bars fill up with people.
