By Vicky · Published Jul. 12th, 2022 · Updated Nov. 21st, 2022
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In the small university town of Delft, famous for the blue and white tiles, explore the historic sights on this walking tour.
Page Contents:
Location
This walk starts from Delft train station. It’s about 1 hour on the train from central Amsterdam and 10-15 minutes from both The Hague and Rotterdam.
Delft Walking Tour Map
Get the route by downloading the .gpx or .kml file below. For navigation with Maps.me on your mobile phone, simply download the .kml file and open to add it to the Maps.me bookmarks.
Tips for Delft Walking Tour
- Some museums are closed on Mondays.
- This walking tour lasts roughly 2-3 hours depending on how long you spend in the museums, garden and churches.
- If you enjoyed Delft, try exploring the nearby town of Leiden, similar to Delft but with more museums and fewer blue-and-white tiles.
- Check out other walks and hikes on our Netherlands Hiking Page.
Top Sights in Delft
On this self-guided walking tour you’ll see the main sites and attractions of Delft. Half a day is the perfect amount of time to spend in Delft, though you could easily spend a full day if you spend a long time in the Museum Prinsenhof and the Royal Delft Factory. If you have very little time in the Netherlands, you can visit Delft, the Hague and Rotterdam on a guided day-trip from Amsterdam*.
- Molen de Roos
- Museum Prinsenhof
- Oude Kerk
- Vermeer Centrum Delft
- Markt – Central Square
- Nieuwe Kerk
- Warenmarkt
- Beestenmarkt Square
- Botanic Gardens
- Royal Delft Factory
Delft Walking Tour Route
This walking trail starts from Delft train station.
Directions: Leave the train station and walk left along the canal. When you get to a triangular island head right over the bridge and the trams tracks and then left along a newly pedestrianised area. Continue 600 metres and you’ll be at the windmill.
1. Molen de Roos
Key Information: Open Wed/Fri/Sat from 11am/1pm/10am until 4pm. Free entry.
Molen de Roos (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) is a windmill in Delft containing a museum. The museum is run by volunteers who can tell you about the history of the windmill. The windmill still grinds grain into flour when the wind is right – not too strong and not too weak – and you can see this happening before your eyes. It’s also nice to walk around the walkway beneath the huge blades, from which there are nice views over town. There are some very steep wooden steps to reach the top of this museum!
Directions: Head left a few metres from the windmill and right down a cute little street. Follow the road as it bends right, then head left. At the canal turn right. Opposite the church, walk underneath an archway towards the Museum Prinsenhof.
2. Museum Prinsenhof
Key Information: Open 11am-5pm Tue-Sun, closed Mondays. Tickets €13.50, discounts for concessions.
Museum Prinsenhof (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) gives an overview of the history of the Netherlands, of Delft, and of the famous blue-and-white Delftware. The collections are housed in a wonderful historical building, once used by William of Orange. It’s worth looking at the outside even if you don’t go in the museum itself.
Directions: Return back out of the archway. Before heading to the church, turn right to walk down Oude Delft canal to the first bridge. This canal has many old buildings along it. Cross the bridge and head left back up to the church.
3. Oude Kerk
Key Information: Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat (11am-4pm weekdays Nov-Jan). Tickets €6.50 for both the Nieuwe and Oude Churches, tower of Nieuwe Kerk €5.50, combination €10. Discounts for concessions.
The Oude Kerk (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) is famous for its tall tower that leans two metres at the top – you can’t go up it. The church was constructed and expanded between 1246 and 1654, with stained glass windows from the mid-20th century. The interior is bright with tall white columns and a wooden roof.
Directions: Cross over the canal at the back of the church and turn right. Walk along the canal and then head left along the next small canal for 150 metres.
4. Vermeer Centrum Delft
Key Information: Open 10am-5pm every day. Tickets €10, discounts for concessions. On Sundays at 10:30 there are free guided tours in English.
The Vermeer Centrum Delft (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) is a museum displaying Vermeer’s work (reproductions) and giving some background to the famous painter’s life.
Directions: Cross over the bridge in front of the Vermeer Centrum into the central square.
5. Markt – Central Square
The central square of Delft (Tripadvisor Reviews*) is surrounded by old buildings, shops and cafes. You’ll see the impressive Delft City Hall (Tripadvisor Reviews*) on your right.
Directions: First head left to walk all the way around the cute streets surrounding the Nieuwe Kerk before returning to the entrance on the main square.
Explore more of the Netherlands on our other walking tours
- Delft Walking Tour – near Rotterdam
- Leiden Walking Tour – not far from Amsterdam
- Kinderdijk Windmills Walk – near Rotterdam
- Amsterdam Walking Tour – Amsterdam
- Wassenaar Dunes Hike – not far from The Hague
6. Nieuwe Kerk
Key Information: Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat (11am-4pm weekdays Nov-Jan). Tickets €6.50 for both the Nieuwe and Oude Churches, tower of Nieuwe Kerk €5.50, combination €10. Discounts for concessions.
The Nieuwe Kerk (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) has a tower over 100 metres tall that you can climb for excellent views over Delft. This church took 100 years to build, with construction ongoing from 1396 to 1496 when the tower was finally completed.
Directions: Walk through the central square to the other end on the left of the City Hall. Head left across a bridge and left again along a canal. Take the next right and you’ll see the street market.
7. Warenmarkt
Key Information: Open Thu and Sat only, 8:30am–5pm.
The Delft Warenmarkt is a great market selling everything from food to flowers and of course cheese.
Directions: Walk through the market to its end at a large open square full of tables and trees.
8. Beestenmarkt Square
Beestenmarkt Square (Tripadvisor Reviews*) is a courtyard full of outdoor seating for restaurants. It’s a lovely place to sit and have a drink or meal. The name comes from its history as a market selling animals. It can get busy on weekends around lunchtime and dinner.
Directions: Head out of the square and to a canal. Turn right and through an old gate at a junction of canals.
You’ll walk through the famous Oostpoort (Tripadvisor Reviews*), the symbol of Delft. It’s a historic tower and bridge complex across a canal, one of the reaming parts of the old city fortifications.
Directions: Walk across the bridge in front of the Oostpoort and then left across another bridge. Turn right to walk alongside the large canal.
History of Delft
Delft was founded back in 1075. An extensive fire destroyed much of the city in 1536 but the city recovered in the 16th and 17th centuries to become a centre for trade. Delftware became famous from 1600 onwards and became a major industry with exports across Europe. Willem van Oranje, leader of the northern Netherlands and uniter of seven provinces, lived in Delft and was assassinated here in 1584.
Johannes Vermeer was born in Delft in 1632, baptised in the Nieuwe Kerk and spent most of his life here in the flourishing town. Delft University of Technology was founded here in 1842 and you can see many students about the town. Today Delft is a lively town with much to explore on this walking tour.
9. Botanic Gardens
Key Information: Open 10am-5pm Tue-Sat. Closed Mondays. Tickets €6, discounts for concessions.
The Delft Botanic Garden (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*) is a peaceful, pleasant space to pass some time near the centre of town. There are a few greenhouses and a lovely cafe in the grounds.
Directions: Continue walking along the edge of the large canal. After the second bridge turn left up a street. After 500 metres you’ll see the Delftware Factory on your left.
10. Royal Delft Factory
Key Information: Open 10am-5pm every day. Tickets €11.50, discounts for concessions.
Royal Delft (Website, Tripadvisor Reviews*), founded in 1653, is the only remaining original factory for Delftware still making hand-painted products in the time-honoured way. You can visit both the factory and an onsite museum with a large collection of Delftware and explanations of its history and importance.
Directions: After leaving the factory/museum, turn left towards a canal. Cross the bridge and turn left along the canal. Before the tunnel head up and right, then left through a different tunnel. There’s a nice harbour area here. Keep walking along the historic Oude Delft canal and at the bridge head left through a narrow alley to Delft train station. To head back into town, head right across the bridge instead. This is the end of the self-guided Delft walking tour.
Guidebooks to explore more of the Netherlands
If you enjoyed this walk, discover Leiden, Amsterdam or the nearby Kinderdijk Windmills.
FAQS – Delft Walking Tour
Delft is best known for white-and-blue Delftware and for being the birthplace of Johannes Vermeer, the famous painter.
In Delft it’s best to explore by walking as the city centre is not that big. You can see lovely canals, blue-and-white Delftware, artwork by Vermeer and many historic buildings.
To visit Delft you need between half a day and one day depending on how long you spend in the museums and churches.
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