Why Delft Works for a Weekend
Delft is small enough to explore on foot and busy enough to fill two days. Its compact canal centre, two major churches, Vermeer connections and the last surviving 17th-century Delftware factory make it a satisfying base, and it sits on the main rail line between The Hague and Rotterdam. Many visitors come on a day trip; staying overnight lets you see the canals in the quiet early morning and evening when the day crowds have left.
Getting There and Getting Around
Delft station is on the line between Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. Direct trains from Amsterdam take roughly an hour, while The Hague and Rotterdam are around 10 to 15 minutes away. There is also a tram (line 1) between The Hague and Delft. From the station, the Markt is about a 10-minute walk.
You will not need transport within the centre. Everything in this itinerary is walkable, except Royal Delft, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk south-east of the Markt. Hotels and B&Bs inside the canal ring are limited, so book ahead for summer weekends.
Saturday Morning: Markets and the Markt
Start on the Markt, the long square between the Nieuwe Kerk and the 17th-century City Hall. On Saturdays Delft has a general market on the Brabantse Turfmarkt and Burgwal, a few minutes' walk away, and from roughly April to late September an antiques market spreads along the canals around the Oude Kerk, on Voldersgracht and Wijnhaven. Look out for old Dutch tiles and Delftware among the stalls.
Then climb the Nieuwe Kerk tower. At about 108 metres it is one of the tallest church towers in the country, and 376 steps take you to a viewing level at around 85 metres. On a clear day you can see The Hague and Rotterdam. The climb is narrow and steep and closes in bad weather. Inside the church, the tomb of William of Orange and the royal burial vault are the main points of interest.
Saturday Afternoon: Vermeer and the Oude Kerk
Walk to the Vermeer Centrum on Voldersgracht, built on the site of the Guild of St Luke where Vermeer was a member. It shows life-size reproductions of his paintings and explains his use of light and the camera obscura debate. There are no original Vermeers in Delft; for those you need the Mauritshuis in The Hague or the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Continue to the Oude Kerk on the Oude Delft canal. Its tower leans visibly, and the church contains the grave of Vermeer, who was buried here in 1675. A combined ticket usually covers both the Oude and Nieuwe Kerk.
Note that Museum Prinsenhof, opposite the Oude Kerk, where William of Orange was assassinated in 1584, closed for renovation in January 2025 and is expected to reopen in 2027.
Late in the afternoon, from April to October, take a 50-minute canal cruise with Rondvaart Delft from Koornmarkt. Departures run hourly until 17:00.
Sunday Morning: Royal Delft
Royal Delft, founded in 1653, is the only Delft earthenware factory from the 17th century still operating. The visit combines a museum on the history of Delftware with a look at the production areas, where painters decorate pieces by hand. Allow around 90 minutes, longer if you book a painting workshop. If you want to buy, check the base for the factory mark: many cheap "Delft Blue" souvenirs elsewhere are printed rather than hand-painted.
Sunday Afternoon: Choose Your Pace
You have three good options for the rest of the day:
- Stay in Delft. Walk the quieter canals on the east side of the centre, or visit the TU Delft Botanical Garden, which has glasshouses and an outdoor collection. The Delftse Hout park on the north-east edge of town has a lake and woodland paths.
- The Hague. Ten minutes by train or a longer ride on tram 1 brings you to the Mauritshuis, home of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and View of Delft. Seeing View of Delft after a day in the city is a good way to end the weekend.
- Rotterdam. About 15 minutes by train for modern architecture, the Markthal and the Erasmus Bridge.
Where to Eat and Practical Tips
Cafés and restaurants cluster around the Markt, along Oude Delft and in the streets between them. Terraces on the Markt are pleasant but busy; side streets are often quieter and better value. Thursday is the main market day if you arrive early: the Markt fills with stalls selling cheese, fish and fruit, and a flower market runs on the Brabantse Turfmarkt.
A few tips:
- Combine tickets. The Oude and Nieuwe Kerk are visited on one combined ticket; check whether the tower climb is included or sold separately.
- Check opening days. Some attractions close on Sundays or have shorter Sunday hours, so confirm before you plan around them.
- Bring a jacket. The tower and canal boats are exposed to wind, even in summer.
