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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
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
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.
- 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.