Delft is a beautiful historic city in The Netherlands. Its lovely Old Town is bordered by canals and features a delightful market square, numerous churches, and a number of well-preserved medieval-era houses.
The Markt square is home to a variety of markets and events. It also contains the impressive Delft City Hall and Nieuwe Kerk buildings.
1. Markt Square
Delft’s Markt Square is the center of the city and one of its most famous landmarks. The square, with its Renaissance-style City Hall and gothic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) is a great starting point for exploring the old town.
This bustling square also houses numerous bars, cafes and souvenir shops that are worth a visit for their scrumptious treats and beautiful interiors. Thursdays are market days, when more than 150 covered stalls abound offering flowers, vegetables, tasty cheeses, hand-crafted souvenirs, fresh bread and antiques.
The Nieuwe Kerk is a majestic Gothic-style church that towers over the square at 108 meters. You can climb to the top of its tower to enjoy the view over the city of Delft and its surrounding area.
2. City Hall
The city hall is a Renaissance style building that stands on the Markt square across from the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). Built in 1618 after the previous town hall burnt down, it was designed by Hendrik de Keyser.
The building is the centerpiece of the historic center, and a central part of its appeal for visitors. In addition to government work, the City Hall is used for weddings and political events.
In the design process, the building volume was shaved and reformed to create a compact, highly efficient form. Incisions in the glass volume form a pattern of alleyways and courtyards inspired by the intricate structure of streets in Old Delft.
The building connects the historic inner city on the east side of the railway tunnel with the residential neighbourhoods located to the west, realigning the centre of Delft. A vaulted ceiling features an enormous historic 1877 map of Delft and its surroundings. It is possible to walk directly from the station into the city hall.
3. Oostpoort
Delft is a beautiful city to explore with its historic sights and new modern shops/restaurants. We’ve put together a one day itinerary to help you see the best of this storied city.
After walking around the city centre, take a stroll through the beautiful network of canals. These can be very pleasant to walk through with their trees and picturesque bridges.
Alternatively, you can rent a bicycle and cycle through the streets of Delft. This is an affordable way to get around and will give you a chance to really enjoy the sights!
Another great way to see the city is to visit the Technology University of Delft and their botanical gardens. These are a must-visit for anyone who loves nature and has a love for art!
4. Windmill de Roos
Delft is a lovely historic town in south Holland, between Rotterdam and The Hague. Its charming Old Town is surrounded by canals, and it's home to many fine churches and medieval-era houses.
- One of Delft's most famous landmarks is Windmill de Roos, the last remaining of the 15 windmills that dominated this city in the medieval era. This attractive stone building extends seven stories high and offers wonderful views over Delft.
- Inside the windmill's museum you can see old milling tools in action and learn about the history of this and other area windmills. You can also climb up the windmill's steep wooden steps to get a close-up look at the mill's blades.
- Originally built as a corn mill, this mill is now used to grind flour from organic grains. It's open to visitors for tours, and the Ambacht shop at the bottom sells bags of flour.
