walking tour delft

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Delft Walking Tour

Home » Europe » Netherlands » Delft Walking Tour

By Vicky · Published Jul. 12th, 2022 · Updated Jul. 16th, 2024

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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:

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
• Vermeer Centrum Delft
• Markt – Central Square
• Nieuwe Kerk
• 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

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 remaining 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.

Related Posts

Amsterdam Walking Tour

Maastricht Walking Tour

Valkenburg Walking Tour

Leiden Walking Tour

Remaining rather than reaming: It’s a historic tower and bridge complex across a canal, one of the reaming parts of the old city fortifications.

thanks for spotting that! I’ve corrected it now.

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Free Walking Tour Delft

Explore The Charming City Of Delft On Our Tip-Based Walking Tour!

Free  delft walking tour.

Explore the charming city of Delft on our Free Walking Tour Delft! Join our tour and discover the city’s canals, picturesque corners, and unique streets. Delft is a compact city, and its beautiful city center is virtually free of cars, making it perfect for walking.

During our 2-hour Free Tour Delft, we will take you along some of Delft’s major historic landmarks, visit the birthplace of the painter Johannes Vermeer, admire the quintessential Delft Blue Pottery, and discover the city’s connection to the Royal Family.

The tour is tip-based, so at the end of the Free Walking Tour Delft , you can choose how much you want to give to the guide.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience and book now to explore Delft with a local guide!

Pictures from our walks

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Frequently asked questions about the tour

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Want to know more about our tours?

Walking Tours

Privacy overview.

• Historical Tour
• Alternative Tour
• Educational Tour
• Anne Frank Tour
• Dark Side Tour
• Rotterdam Tour
• The Hague Tour
• Utrecht Tour
• Haarlem Tour
• Maastricht Tour

Private Walking Tour Delft

Start of the tour: Markt square

Languages: english, spanish, dutch, duration: 2 hours, price € 190,- per guide (max 20 people per guide).

Preview of the Walking tour Delft

Welcome to the live viewing box that is Delft! Overflowing with canals, picturesque corners and calendar plates that you could wander through for days on end. Delft is a compact and charming city, which makes it great for a Walking Tour. Everything is walkable from the Markt square and the beautiful city centre is virtually free of cars.

During this 2-hour tour, we cover the historic relevance of Holland’s most charming town. Discover the birthplace of painter Johannes Vermeer, get your hands (carefully) on the world-famous Delft Blue Pottery and find out how it is connected to the Royal Family.

*Guided Walking Tour Delft is suitable for all ages, wheel-chair friendly (please notify us) and dog-friendly

Book Your Guided Tour Delft

Need support with booking? If your question is not listed in the Frequently Asked Questions, contact us directly and we will help you on your way!

• Date and time

Booking FAQ

Why are certain dates unavailable in the calendar.

We accept booking requests up to 2 days prior to the tour date . In case you want to make a reservation on a shorter notice, you can contact us directly and see if we have availability.

In Amsterdam, we offer limited private tours on Saturdays during high season (May – August). They are not bookable via the booking system, please contact us to inquire about our availability.

If we shorten the 2-hour tour, do I get a discount?

No. Happy to explain;

Our guides are paid per given tour, not at an hourly rate . For this reason, we can’t give a discount if the tour is shortened or altered in any other way. We believe that our prices are fair and competitive, plus the guides also have to travel to & from the meeting point and are unable to take other shifts on the half-day of your tour.

We advise not to shorten the tours, two hours for a walking tour is a perfect time to get a quality tour at a relaxed pace. If you still desire to do it in less time, we are happy to give you the best tour possible in the requested time slot.

Can I get a discount or commission for booking a tour?

Instead of giving discounts, we offer our tours at competitive prices. We are transparent about these costs; they are required to cover our expenses for offering a quality tour.

We don’t work with commissions, as an independent tour company we work without affiliates, sponsors or commission-based travel agents. This is how we keep our prices competitive and our recommendations honest.

Can we choose our own date & time for the tour?

You can request a tour on any time & date, two days prior to the event.

• For bookings on the same day, or next 48 hours, we kindly ask you to contact us directly .
• In Amsterdam, we offer private tours from Monday to Friday during high season (May to August). We have no available guides on Saturdays & Sunday during these months.
• In the rare case that your requested date & time is unavailable, we will suggest multiple alternative options.

How do I pay for the tour?

After confirming your tour details, you are taken to the payment screen. Choose your payment method here and complete the transaction as instructed. Aside from your booking confirmation, you will receive a booking order with your payment details.

Our system support the following payment methods:

• Credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express)
• SEPA Bank Transfer
• KCB/CBC Bank
• SOFORT Banking
• Belfius Bank

After payment, you will receive a confirmation with an automated invoice.

If you prefer to pay per invoice, please request it in the form with the required details. Payment per invoice is offered with an additional administrative fee of €4,50.

How do I know if my booking is confirmed?

Fill in the form and it will be sent to us. We aim to answer your request within 24 hours.

• We will find the perfect guide(s) for your specific group and process your requests.
• You receive a confirmation of the details and a link for payment.
• After payment, your booking is secured and you will receive an automated invoice and confirmation.

How many people per guide?

For Amsterdam tours, local regulations state limit us to a maximum of 15 people per guide in Amsterdam . For a group of more than 15 people, we schedule multiple guides. The restrictions are strictly monitored by the municipality, exceeding the maximum per guide may result in a fine and us losing our license.

The other cities have no legal restrictions. However, we feel we can offer our best service with groups up to 20 people per guide in Rotterdam, The Hague, Haarlem, Utrecht & Delft . For a group larger than 20 people, we schedule multiple guides.

This way we can maintain the quality that our visitors deserve!

Can I change/cancel my reservation after booking?

You can cancel your reservation up to 14 days before your reservation free of charge. If you want minor changes for the tour, like the meeting point or number of people, just send us an email.

Walk Like A Delvenaar, Not Like A Delftenaar

Although located right in the middle of major cities of boisterous The Hague and down-to-earth Rotterdam, the people from Delft have a mentality of their own. Find out the difference between its demonyms, why it is a student’s city and where the locals eat, drink and hang out.

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The Girl Of Vermeer

When the 2003 film adaptation of the eponymous novel was released, the Girl With The Pearl Earring became a story known to a whole new generation. Discover the true story of the girl and the milkmaid, that Johannes Vermeer captured and presented to the world in his legendary painting.

Read Our Guides’ Personal Recommendations

Visit our Recommendations Page for Delft and meet our dedicated guides. Read their personal recommendations for places to visit & things to do, and find out why they are excited to share their stories from their beloved city!

Meet your local friends in Delft!

Some of us are born and raised in delft, others are born elsewhere in the netherlands. after years of living and guiding in the city, we all now truly feel as experienced guides who can show you the city like a local..

Since I was a little kid, I loved visiting Delft. The beautiful architecture catches your eye from the moment you arrive at Delft Central train station and the city has both a beautiful history as well as a youthful pub scene.

Guide & Traveler

Delft is the hidden gem of Holland.  It is perfect for a day, its city center is perfect for walking. En because of the small size it is also within walkable distance. So you could not find a better town for a Free Walking Tour. With the walk, I show you the hidden gems and explain the rich (beer) history of this picturesque city Delft. I hope that you will join me on one of the tours, but also that you unlike most people stay in Delft for a night. Because there is enough to see for 2 days, and there is the great nightlife! So hope to see you soon in Delft!

We may contact you in the rare case of last minute changes (eg. extreme weather or city protests). Your phone number will not be given to third parties.