Delft: A Most Enchanting Little Town in South Holland

Delft is a charming town in South Holland famous for its Delft-blue pottery ceramics, and painter Johannes Vermeer. You'll think you're looking at a Vermeer painting when you see rows of gable-roof houses, arched bridges, beautiful tree-lined canals, and ancient churches!

There is no shortage of delightful restaurants, museums, shops, outdoor cafes, churches, pubs, and lots of pretty buildings. I believe this small town has so much to offer that it will surely charm everyone, even the most difficult-to-please tourist!

In my opinion, Delft is like a tiny version of Amsterdam, with its architecture and canals, but I find this town much more pleasant because it is cleaner and more peaceful than its big brother, Amsterdam! What makes touring Delft so easy is the size of the town, and it won't take long to see most of its charms, whether you're walking, cycling, or riding the canals (by taking a tour).

Another advantage to Delft's small size is that you only need six to eight hours to see most of the attractions the town offers. Of course, an overnight visit is always recommended so that you can experience the quaint restaurants and see the beautiful way the houses along the canals are lit up at night!

Getting There:

Getting to Delft is so easy: it's only twelve minutes by train from Rotterdam and slightly over one hour Amsterdam. Once you arrive in Delft, I highly recommend that the first thing you do is visit the Tourist Information Point (TIP) to pickup useful brochures and speak to the women working at the TIP for pointers.

The Tourist Information Centre (TIP):

To find the TIP, just follow the signs as you leave the train station, and it is located on Hippolytus Street, around the corner from the Market Square. The TIP provides tourists with useful information about sightseeing, events, attractions, and finding that last-minute hotel vacancy. At the TIP you'll find plenty of informational brochures, and well as the attraction specific brochures that are sold for a small fee.

The TIP is staffed by very friendly ladies who speak fluent English, and are always willing to give you lot of TIPs about what to see! The TIP is open every day, except for Christmas. Limited hours are in effect on New Year's Day.

Three Ways to See Delft:

Cars are not allowed inside the town, and only bicycles, trams, and official vehicles are permitted, so here are my tips for seeing the best Delft has to offer!

1) Bicycling

Bicycle rentals can be found just about everywhere in town, and the ladies at the TIP can point you to the nearest one. Tour Delft on a bicycle and you'll definitely cover more ground, and you can safely leave your bicycle parked in marked areas when going inside the attractions. If you want to bicycle around Delft and its surroundings, you can purchase a route map at the TIP for €1, 40.

2) Walking

I suggest you wear comfy shoes and arm yourself with a good map to find the best Delft has to offer! Don't forget the umbrella as showers tend to be frequent!

Delft is a great town to explore on foot or bicycle; there's always something that will capture your eye and imagination!

3)Canal Tours via Water Taxis

If you have been walking around town for a few hours, then give your feet a rest and take an inexpensive, leisurely tour of the canals via the numerous water taxis that operate during the summer. Prices are competitive and are posted on the bridges near the water taxi stands.

Do you like Churches?

There is no shortage of churches and monasteries in Delft, so, if you love churches, there are several historical churches that you can view from the outside and some you can go inside (for a small fee)

Just about all churches in Delft are closed to tourists on Sundays, but if you join the service, then you'll get to see the inside of the church!

The most important churches to see are: Oude Kurk (built in 1246), and this is the oldest church in Delft. The Nieuw Kurk (built in 1496) is a newer church and is connected to the Royal House of Orange. Here you'll find the royal tombs where the Dutch royals are buried, but unfortunately they are not open for tourists.

Do you love Delft Blue Ceramics?

Delft is world-famous for the Delft pottery ceramic products, and this may be one of the reasons you're visiting Delft. What many people don't know that this type of pottery did not originate in Delft, but was simply copied from imported Chinese porcelain of the 17th century that was brought to Holland by the VOC (Dutch East India Company)!

DelftBlue Ceramics Factory Tours

Once upon a time, there were 32 pottery ceramic factories in Delft. Today, only three factories remain in operation and are open to the public. The Royal Delft factory is the only factory open on Sundays. We joined a guided tour that took us through the factory. We saw a very large room where the clays are mixed, saw how artifacts are shaped and then baked, and then saw the area where the unpainted ceramics are left to rest before they are moved to the artists' quarters.

Then we proceeded to the art rooms where the artists were painting the pieces, and we were able to ask questions to those who spoke English. We were also permitted to meander through the beautiful inner garden, as well as the exposition room. The guided tour costs €4, and children under 12 are free.

On the premises you'll find a very large showroom selling magnificent Delft pieces. We were told that by purchasing a piece here we would save a considerable amount of money, instead of shopping at an authorized dealer in town or in Amsterdam.

Also, we were told that if you plan in advance, you can take a two-hour workshop and learn how to paint your own tile or Christmas ornament. Here, you'll receive expert guidance, and even if you're not artistic, chances are your piece will end up looking beautiful!

Visit: www.royaldelft.com for more information about the factory and the workshops!

When shopping for that unique ceramic piece, please keep in mind that authentic Delftware is hand-painted and is never mass-produced!

In addition to this factory, there are two other factories open to the public, but only Monday through Saturday.

Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles is the second most popular factory tour after Royal Delft.

The Market Square ~ The Heart of Town:

As in most European villages, the "Market" is the center of it all, and for Delft, the market square is where everything still happens! The Square is defined by the Nieuwe Kerk on one end, and the Renaissance-style Stadhuis directly on the opposite end, across the plaza. Surrounding these two architectural delights, you'll see quaint houses whose lower/main floors have been converted into souvenir shops or restaurants/coffee shops with outdoor seating.

There is nothing more entertaining that sitting down at one of these little cafes, kicking up your feet, sip some coffee, or drink a beer, while watching the locals go by!

The ladies at the TIP stated that Thursdays is probably one of the best days to visit Delft and mingle with the locals! Thursday is market day in Delft and all vendors bring their goods and set up their tables in the Square.

Vermeer, Delft's most famous artist:

The city of Delft heavily promotes its own artist, Johannes Vermeer, who was born in Delft, and is considered one of the Netherlands' most important painters. Walking through Delft is like living in Vermeer's time, because not much has changed... the architecture remains the same and you'll recognize certain locations depicted on his paintings. Take a self-guided tour through Vermeer's Delft by purchasing a brochure at the TIP entitled "Vermeer in Delft" and you'll be able to walk the streets and see the same buildings the painter saw. This tour is highly recommended.

Culinary Experiences:

There are many quaint little restaurants overlooking the canals, and it's a difficult decision where to go. After walking all day long, we were a bit hungry and we found a beautiful little restaurant overlooking one of the canals. We enjoyed a late lunch and spent over an hour just watching people running around trying to get out of the rain; what an enjoyable way to pass time!

End of our tour:

Torrential rain brought our tour to and end, and we made our way to the train station. I have beautiful memories of this quaint town, with its' gable-roof houses and pretty, tree-lined canals. One thing is for certain, this charming little town is unforgettable!

Obviously, it's nearly impossible to see Delft in its entirety in less than eight hours. However, in one day, I feel that we really got a taste of Delft and captured its spirit. If you have a flexible schedule and can plan ahead, I'd suggest spending at least one-and a half days in Delft. Since we were staying in the next town over (Rotterdam), I was able to return the next day, just for a couple of hours and to take pictures while the sun was shining!