Best of Delft

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Delft

Founded in the 11th century, Delft is famous for its distinctive blue-and-white pottery known as Delftware and its connections to one of Europe’s greatest painters. Johannes Vermeer was born in the city in 1632 during the Dutch Golden Age, when the Netherlands was the envy of the world when it came to commerce, science and art. In many ways, the city’s landscape has changed little since those days, with scenic lanes crisscrossed by canals, and a pedestrian-friendly center dotted with soaring medieval steeples and tree-lined squares.

You can learn more about Delft’s history and the city’s unique architecture on guided tours through the historic center, taking in the Renaissance-style city hall and other buildings. At Vermeer Centrum, you can learn all about the famous baroque painter who spent most of his life in Delft. Nearby workshops produce Delft pottery, still made in the traditional manner. You can also visit the Royal Deft Museum, or even have high tea (served on Delftware, naturally) in the elegant courtyard garden.

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Highlights of Holland - 5 Days

Experience the best Holland has to offer! The picturesque yet lesser-known cities of Leiden, Delft, and Gouda include all the quintessential Dutch characteristics: cheese markets, famous painters, canals, rich history, churches with beautiful stained glass, windmills, lovely squares, and ancient cobbled alleys. In addition, these smaller cities have a laid-back but lively atmosphere. End the trip in Amsterdam which is, of course, a much larger city but very much worth a visit.

A mosaic rendition of "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Discover the Dutch Masters - 5 Days

Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals: Dutch art history is full of famous names. On this short trip, you'll view their masterpieces on display in world-class museums and visit the places where they lived and worked. Stroll along the cobblestoned streets and charming canals of Den Haag and Haarlem, step into Vermeer's former residence in Delft, and see where Rembrandt painted his iconic works in Amsterdam.

Cycling Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Enjoy a Dutch-style vacation by exploring western Holland on two wheels! On this dynamic weeklong cycling trip, you'll pedal through forests, flower fields, and sand dunes, stopping to see picturesque windmills and historic monuments along the way. You'll ride into the wilderness of protected national parks, sample cheeses in Gouda, and stop for sightseeing in charming cities and villages including Delft and Leiden.

Cycling Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Pedal past windmills, tulip fields, and castles on this wonderful two-week cycling tour of the Netherlands and Flanders! You'll explore green landscapes and coastal scenery as you make your way between historic Dutch cities like Haarlem, Delft, and Leiden, then cross over to Belgium, where medieval architecture and locally made chocolates await. There's so much to see and do in the region, and there's no better way to see it than on a bicycle.

Highlights of Coastal Netherlands - 9 Days

The Dutch coast has so much to offer, from quiet beaches to bustling cities to pristine national parks. This 9-day itinerary takes you through some of the top highlights, including picturesque Amsterdam, beautiful Oosterschelde National Park, the charming artisan center of Delft, and the architectural capital of Rotterdam. Ride a bike along with the impressive Delta Works, view historic windmills at Zaanse Schans, and explore remnants of the Dutch Golden Age in Middelburg. From nature to culture to history, this adventure has something for everyone.

Highlights of Holland - 10 Days

Experience the best of Holland along with some of its hidden gems on this 10-day trip! From big cities to charming small villages, you’ll experience a perfect cross-section of what the Netherlands has to offer. You’ll have the opportunity to admire all of the traditional Dutch characteristics: cheese markets, famous painters, typical canals, rich history, churches with stained-glass windows, windmills, lovely squares, and ancient cobbled alleys. In addition to exploring picturesque smaller cities such as Gouda, Leiden, and Delft, you will also visit Amsterdam, home to the country’s most famous museums, the vibrant, modern harbor city of Rotterdam, and even get some beach time!

Luxury Tour of Holland - 10 Days

Experience the best Holland has to offer on this 10-day luxury tour! You'll sleep in one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and dine in fine restaurants while exploring the capital city of Amsterdam, pristine Hoge Veluwe National Park, the lively university town of Leeuwarden, and the windswept islands of Vlieland and Texel. Highlights along the journey include a private gondola tour, a day trip to historic windmills in the Dutch countryside, a self-guided bike ride along picturesque sand dunes, plenty of time to enjoy viewing Vincent van Gogh's original masterpieces, and an overnight stay in a gorgeously restored complex of Golden Age canal houses.

A lush green landscape in the Netherlands

Grand Tour of the Netherlands - 14 Days

Fields of tulips, antique windmills, paintings by Vincent van Gogh, boat rides on the canals of Amsterdam: on this magnificent two-week trip, you'll visit many of Holland's top highlights. Stops along the itinerary include the port city of Rotterdam, forested Hoge Veluwe National Park, and the windswept island of Texel, where you'll spend a few relaxing days at the end of the trip. No adventure in the Netherlands, of course, would be complete without a bicycle ride. So this action-packed itinerary also features several chances to explore historic cities and idyllic landscapes on two wheels!

Other popular travel destinations in The Netherlands
Amsterdam · Rotterdam · Leiden · Haarlem · The Hague · Dordrecht · Texel · Hoorn · Bergen · Utrecht · Gouda · Nijmegen · Terschelling

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