What to See in Delft

This is Delft's oldest Church, being built in 1246. The interior of this church is excellent. Famous Dutchmen are buried in this church, including: Piet Hein, Maerten Tromp and Johannes Vermeer. €3, with free entrance to the New Church. Note that the Old Church leans out considerably over the Oude Delft canal.…

Located at Markt, this church was built in 1496. The royal burial chamber is in this church but is not accessible. Prince William of Orange was the first to be buried here, after being shot in 1584. €3 It is possible to climb the 108,75 m tower to get a impressive view of Delft and surroundings. It's the second highest church tower, after the Dom church of Utrecht.…

This is a tree covered square with restaurants, cafés and bars all with outside seating. Very busy all year round. Many pubs have patio heaters to provide comfort after sunset. One of the pubs even provides a sand pit for the children. The name of the square refers to cattle (beest is animal) market which used to be held here.…

In medieval Delft Sint Agathaklooster was the biggest cloister in Delft. After 1650 it was split in two parts. Part of the chapel remained for religious service (Waalse Kerk). Prince William of Orange held court in the rest of the complex. He was killed here in 1584.…

As a result of the reformation around 1572, many cloisters were abandoned. This happened to the Clarissenklooster as well. It became a warehouse for sulphur, saltpeter and canon. In 1637 a small tower for firepowder was built. In 1654 this tower exploded, destroying a large part of the city. After this it was rebuilt.

Adjacent to the Vleeshal is the old city's fish market. Try traditional Dutch herring. The taste holds between raw tuna and "gravad lax" (cured salmon). The antique shop opposite the Visbank is the most photographed building in Delft. Note the fence. It is a depiction of the solar system.

The building of the former arsenal, picturesquely located at the fork of canals, used to house the Royal Army Museum (Legermuseum) until it moved to Soest in 2013. It is now in redevelopment, but you can still admire the building from the outside.

The eastern gate to the city, built around 1400 and of the four original gates the only surviving one. Small building. It looks kind of cute. It is not on the famous painting by Vermeer (because that's the South Gate), as many tourists wrongly think.

This is a tiny street at the back of the New Church. Note the little warped house on the corner closest to the church. It featured in the Girl with the pearl earring, a film about the painter Vermeer and every tourist takes it picture.

This small park was built around 1880 by a local factory owner for his workers. It is the first garden city in the Netherlands. It contains the house of the owner and small working-class cottages and has been a state monument since 1989.

The Dutch East India Company House consisted of 6 chambers. One of them was located in Delft. Delft had a harbour (Delfshaven) at that time, next to Rotterdam. The harbour was later engulfed by the growing city of Rotterdam.

After a fire in 1618 after which only the tower remained, Hendrick de Keyser rebuilt the town hall. He reused the tower and some remaining walls. In 1620 construction was finished. The building was renovated in the 19th century.

Between the Mekelweg and the Schoemakerstraat sits one of the largest technical libraries of Europe. It is housed in a glass building, with a sloping grass roof penetrated by a concrete cone. Free entrance during opening hours.

Built in 1650. It is one of the only Hollands Classical buildings in Delft. Originally a meat market, later it was converted for wheat. Nowadays it is a youth society. It is possible to eat here for a modest price (around €4).

The museum, run by Delft University, is housed in a beautiful building. It displays a wide range of historical engines, as well as the history of the calculator. Activities aimed at children are organized regularly.

This was a hofje for single women, founded in 1575 by Pieter Sasbout. It was originally situated on Korte Geer, but, with the expansion of the Armamentarium, it was relocated to its current location.

The botanical garden of Delft University houses a large collection of 'utility' plants, both in greenhouses and a nicely laid out park. Good place to spend a few quiet hours on a sunny afternoon.

This former synagogue was built in 1862 as temple, to a design of Ir. Leon Winkel. The building houses a permanent exhibition to the remembrance of the Jewish victims in the Second World War.

An imposing building dating from 1505 with richly decorated sandstone façade and a tower. Since 1645 it is a headquarters of Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland - a Dutch waterboard

It's an old fashioned pharmacy. The gable is adorned by a traditional Gaper. The pharmacist -in white lab coat- provides proper care and attention far beyond current standards.

This former house of a 19th century artist, Paul Tétar van Elven, is very well preserved, with the original furniture and interior design.

This hofje was meant for unmarried or widowed Catholic women. It was founded in 1605 by Dirck and Elizabeth Uyttenhage.

A former weighting house. It currently hosts a café and a restaurant.

It was built in 1707 as stated in the will of Elizabeth Pauw.