Location of Delft in the Netherlands: Delft is located 2km inland from Den Haag, a ten minute train ride (see our Delft location map on the right). Delft is a town of canals and gabled houses of fewer than 100,000 people.
Getting to Delft: It's easy to get to Delft from the main train station, Delft Centraal. The historic center of Delft is a 5 minute walk toward the steeple you see in the distance.
By car from The Hague or Rotterdam, you reach Delft via the A13 getting off at junction 9 for Delft Center.
Almshouses in Delft: As in Leiden, Delft has some interesting Alms Houses to visit. These quiet homes, originally built for the poor, are interesting to visit and to note the attitudes toward poverty in historic eras.
Delft Pottery: First you'll probably want to visit Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles or Royal Delft, the "last remaining Delftware factory from the 17th century still producing entirely handmade Delftware" according to the web site. Open 9 to 5 every day in the summer, you'll find Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles on Rotterdamseweg 196 in Delft.
Then, to shop for artistic, contemporary ceramics, you may wish to stop over at Terra Ceramics on Nieuwstraat 7 in Delft. They represent 30 artists.
Delft Tourist Office - Tourist Information Point: The Tourist Information Point is located at Hippolytusbuurt 4 in Delft. You'll find maps, tours, and other essential information here.
Other Top Delft Attractions: History buffs will want to hit the William of Orange trail. Starting with Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) you'll find the royal crypts and the mausoleum of William of Orange. Considered the founding father of the Netherlands, William was buried in the church after being assasinated by Balthazar Gerards in his residence known as the Prinsenhof, now a museum called Museum Het Prinsenhof you'll want to visit. The House of Orange had to keep things together, so you'll see lots of history over at the Legermuseum or Army Museum.
Famous painter (and one of my personal faves) Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was born in Delft and worked here most of his life. The tourist office will give you a map and information on a 2 hour walk around Delft that will introduce you to the relationship between the painter and his city. There is also a guided walk on the first Saturday of the Month starting from the Vermeer Center at Voldersgracht 21 in Delft in the afternoon.
