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Voykit pocket guide · Netherlands
Delft
Give Delft one full day and one night: the centre walks in 10 minutes, the New Church tower is the one paid climb, and it sits 15 min by train from The Hague.
Delft is a compact canal town between The Hague and Rotterdam, small enough to cross on foot in ten minutes and known for its blue-and-white ceramics, its two churches and its Vermeer connection. Most visitors come as a day trip from The Hague or Rotterdam, but one night lets you see the Markt after the day crowds leave. It also works as a quieter base for the region.
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best months
- May–Sep; Apr and Sep for fewer crowds
- Avoid
- Nov–Feb (short, grey days); King's Day and school holidays for crowds
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards dominate; some shops and cafés are card-only and a few supermarkets accept debit cards but not all credit cards, so carry both.
- Daily spend
- Budget €60–95 excl. bed · Mid €95–160 excl. bed · High €160+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- KPN, Vodafone and Odido run the networks; Lebara and Lyca sell cheap prepaid SIMs in supermarkets and at Schiphol.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin; UK and US plugs need adapters.
- Tipping
- Café: Round up.; Restaurant: 5–10% for good service; tell the server the total when paying by card.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is among the best in Europe; restaurants may charge for it, so ask.
- Toilets
- Stations charge about €0.70–1; cafés expect you to buy something; free urinals (and a few public toilets) in city centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or tea in a café | €2.50–4 |
| Lunch: sandwich or soup | €7–14 |
| Main course, mid-range restaurant | €16–26 |
| Beer, draught / supermarket can | €4–6 / €1–2 |
| Train Delft → The Hague or Rotterdam, one way | €4–6 |
| New Church and Old Church combined ticket | €8.50 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €8–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- AMS · Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
- Direct train to Delft, about 35–45 min; a prearranged taxi is €60+.
- RTM · Rotterdam The Hague Airport
- No direct public transport: bus 33 or metro line E via Meijersplein to Rotterdam Centraal, then train; about 45 min total.
Typical fares
- Schiphol Airport → Delft, train
- about €12–13, 35–45 min
- Delft → The Hague Centraal, train
- about €4–5, 15–20 min
- Tram 1, Delft → The Hague centre
- about 30 min with OV-chipkaart or day pass
Get around
The historic centre is pedestrianised and walkable end to end in about 10 minutes. Trams 1 and 19 and regional buses serve the station and the north of the city; the OV-chipkaart or a day pass covers them. Bikes rent at the station (ID plus a deposit; about €7.50 a day for a simple bike). Cars are discouraged: the centre is largely car-free, street parking near it is permit-only and fines run to about €70.
See and do
Known for
- Blue-and-white Delftware ceramics
- Nieuwe Kerk and the royal burial vault
- Oude Kerk and Vermeer's grave
- Markt square and the Stadhuis
- TU Delft
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Hague | Direct train from Delft to Den Haag Centraal or Den Haag HS | About 30–40 min |
| Rotterdam | Direct train from Delft to Rotterdam Centraal | About 30 min |
| Scheveningen | Tram 1 from Delft through The Hague to the coast | About 45–60 min |
| Schiedam | Train to Schiedam Centrum, then walk or local bus | About 30–40 min |
| Zoetermeer | Train or RandstadRail via The Hague | About 40–50 min |
| Vlaardingen | Train towards Rotterdam, then local bus | About 40 min |
Sleep
- Around the Markt and Oude Delft
- The postcard centre: churches, canals and restaurants on the doorstep; book early and expect the highest rates.
- Near Delft station
- Best for a one-night stop with bags: trains, trams and bike rental at the door, 5–10 min walk to the Markt.
- Beestenmarkt area
- Tree-shaded square of cafés and bars, 2 min from the Markt; lively in the evening, so ask for a room away from the square.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HalloHAH-loh |
| Thank you | Dank je weldahnk yuh vel |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpar-DON |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels?spraykt oo ENG-uls |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kost het?hoo-VAYL kost ut |
| Can I pay by card? | Kan ik met de kaart betalen?kan ik met duh kart buh-TAH-lun |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Firm handshake with eye contact; three cheek kisses among friends; avoid: Hugging new acquaintances
- Directness: Say what you mean; expect honest, blunt answers; avoid: Taking bluntness as rudeness
- Punctuality: Be on time; diaries plan weeks ahead; avoid: Dropping in unannounced
- Money: Split bills; pay your share; avoid: Showing off wealth
- Homes: Bring flowers or a small gift; congratulate everyone at a birthday; avoid: Expecting dinner if invited for coffee
Scams and watch-outs
- Bikes have priority and ride fast in the pedestrian streets; step aside rather than stopping dead in the lane.
- A floor tile showing only a 'P' can mean permit-holders-only parking: read the sign or you risk a fine.
- Taxis are allowed in pedestrian streets and can drive quickly at night.
- The New Church tower climb is the only tower you can ascend; the Old Church tower is not open to climbers.
- Church and museum hours change by season and close on Sundays: check before you go.
Delft is a low-risk town; the real hazards are fast bikes in pedestrian streets, canal edges without rails at night, and parking fines if you misread a permit sign.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Delft yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Blue-and-white Delftware ceramics
- Nieuwe Kerk and the royal burial vault
- Oude Kerk and Vermeer's grave
- Markt square and the Stadhuis
- TU Delft
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- VVV Delft tourist information: www.indelft.nl/en/plan-your-visit/tourist-information
- Gemeente Delft (municipality): www.delft.nl/
- NS (Dutch Railways): www.ns.nl/
- Wikivoyage: Delft, revision 5328726 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5328726
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Delft
Naar dit adres, alstublieft
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance112
No embassies in Delft; most are in The Hague, about 15 min by train.
112 works from any phone in the EU, free and in English.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/delft). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.