Delft is a small picturesque city in the South of the Netherlands, between The Hague and Rotterdam, known for its white and blue pottery. The city gets its name from the many man-made canals.
Your visit to Delft will definitely not be a dull one! Here are the activities you cannot miss during a trip to Delft. Let’s delve into Delft!
1. Visit the one and only windmill in the city
Dating back to 1679, Delft only has one windmill left today. A raging fire destroyed all the other windmills. Be sure to pop into the artisan shop in the base of the windmill.
2. Check out the smallest museum in the Netherlands
Delft has the smallest museum in the Netherlands. It’s basically a glass display case, the size of a telephone booth, with a mannequin inside…Can you call it a museum? Mmm, decide for yourself!
3. Browse the market
If you visit Delft on a Thursday or Saturday, you’ll catch the local markets around the canals. There are three: a general market, a flower market and an antique and bric-a-brac market. I browsed through the antique market. There you’ll find the famous Delft blue and white pottery to ancient World War II relics. At these markets, there is something for everybody.
4. See Delft from the water
Do a canal tour! The tour departs every hour on the hour, costs only €8 per person and lasts about one hour. It’s a great way to see the city and to learn about its interesting history. During weekends, the tours can sell out quite fast. Plan ahead which time you would like to do a canal tour and purchase your tickets as soon as you get to the city.
5. Admire the longest bridge in Delft
The Boterbrug is the longest bridge in the city. It is best to admire the length of the bridge from the water. Have a look at how long the tunnel underneath the bridge is – 102 meters! The Boterbrug doesn’t look like a regular bridge, so it’s easy to miss it. You’ll think you are walking down a small street, but you are actually crossing the bridge.
6. Eat something sweet
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find a quaint little shop or bakery selling something sweet. I recommend Chocolaterie De Lelie. The people were queueing for a scoop of the delicious gelato!
7. Climb the second highest tower in the Netherlands
If you climb the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Delft, you’ll be climbing the second highest tower in the Netherlands. At a height of 109 meters, you’ll get a spectacular panoramic view of the city. The spiral staircase is very narrow with limited space, so leave your backpack in the lockers at the entrance. To climb the tower costs €4 per person.
8. Spot the optical illusions on the Oude Kerk Tower
The tower of the Oude Kerk (Old Church) is crooked! To correct this problem, architects used clever optical illusions to make the tower appear more straight. Can you spot the optical illusions? The four smaller towers have different heights, and the white spikes on the clock have different lengths.
The Oude Kerk bells are the largest in the Netherlands with a circumference of seven meters and the weight of eight small cars!
9. Search for the odd bridge out
There are lots of bridges in Delft. Spotting the odd one out might be a little bit challenging! This bridge was donated by Belgium, but it looks like it belongs in Venice!
I really enjoyed my time in Delft. Whether you are planning a day trip or staying for a couple of days, these activities will help you get the most out of your time in Delft.
