Delft is a mid-sized city in the west of the Netherlands. It's a beautiful, unspoiled town with traditional architecture, canals and bikes. It's also home to the world famous blue and white ceramics. Delft makes a great destination for a day-trip or can serve as a base to explore the region. And if the bustling crowds of Amsterdam are not really your thing, Delft is a lovely alternative, offering an equally interesting insight into the cultural wealth of old "Holland", on a far more intimate scale.

Oude Delft with terrace-boats

Understand

History

Delft is more than 750 years old. Its name is derived from the Dutch word 'delven' which means delve or digging. Delft's oldest canal is called The Old Delft (de Oude Delft). Delft expanded around it; later on many other city-canals were dug as life lines through the city. These grachten are still the pride of Delft.

In 1246 Delft received city rights, granted by Holland's Count William II. Delft grew prosperous and new neighbourhoods were added to the city. In 1355 it reached the size it would remain at until the 1900s.

In 1536 a great fire destroyed 2300 houses. The most likely cause was lightning striking the tower of The New Church. About 100 years later, in 1654, an explosion destroyed large parts of town; a warehouse with 36 000 kg of gunpowder blew up. A new warehouse (Kruithuis) was later built, outside the city perimeter.

Nieuwe Kerk

Delft has long been a centre of art and science. With the foundation of the Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (East India Company) in 1602, Delft also became a trading center. The VOC was at one time the largest trading company in the world, with a huge fleet and offices all over Asia. One of the Dutch offices was in Delft.

In 1842, the Royal Academy for Civil Engineering (Koninklijke Academie ter opleiding van Burgerlijke Ingenieurs) was founded. Now known as Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), it is Delft's biggest employer. About 13,000 students study in Delft.

Get in

By plane

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is 45 min away by direct connection train. If you prearrange a taxi to pick you up at Schiphol, expect to pay at least €60 to Delft.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport is only a few kilometres away but has poor public transport connections. RET city bus 33 runs frequently to Rotterdam Centraal Station and takes you there in about 20 min. From there it's a 20 min train ride.

When taking an airport taxi from Rotterdam The Hague Airport, expect to pay about €35 for the trip. Other, cheaper, options are prearranged taxis from Delft.

By train

Delft has two railway stations: Delft (near the city center and best for the university) and Delft Zuid (Delft's southern residential area). (Direct) train connections run from:

• Den Haag Central Station or Hollands Spoor(10 min, €2)
• Schiphol Airport (45 min, €9.10) Note that the train from Schiphol does not stop at Delft so you need to change at Leiden or Den Haag HS (HS stands for Holland Spoor).
• Amsterdam (1 h, €12)
• Rotterdam (15 m, €3)

From 2010 till 2013, there will be building works in progress as a new train tunnel is being built through Delft. This is a large project, severely affecting the flow of traffic and parking. Because of this the bus station and taxis are now at the back of the train station.

By tram

Delft is a short tram ride from Den Haag by tram. Tramline 1 runs from Scheveningen, through the middle of Den Haag and Den Haag HS to Delft. Travelling time is approximately 20 min from Den Haag to Delft. From Scheveningen to Delft takes about 45 min. Tell the driver your travel plans so that he can sell you the best value ticket. On the trams you now must use the OV-Chipcard or day-pass. Buy these from the central station or ask at an information desk.

By car

Delft is easily reached by car. Coming from Amsterdam or Schiphol, it is at the end of the A4 motorway; coming from Rotterdam, Delft has three exits off the A13 motorway. The city centre is best reached via the IKEA exit. During the weekend this exit can be busy with IKEA shoppers. Then take the North exit.

By bus

Buses from Den Haag and Rotterdam terminate at the Delft bus terminal, which is at the back Delft railway station because of building works at the front. Tram line 1 from Den Haag (HS) runs to Delft and has stops near the city center and railway station.

Get around

By foot

Walking - the centre is small enough to walk across in ten minutes. Most streets in the city centre are pedestrianized. But do take care: taxi's are allowed to use these streets. Especially at night they drive at inappropriate speeds. When walking through town make sure you leave room for traffic on bikes. The locals are zooming around going about on their daily business.The locals are usually aware of tourists looking up at the gables and are ready for unsuspended side steps, but do try to keep an eye on the traffic. A collision with a bike can ruin your whole day. Walking around without a top is considered uncouth.

By push bike

The Netherlands is a perfect country for cycling. The land is flat, the views broad and cycle paths are everywhere. For the Dutch cycling is not only useful for the daily commute but also considered an excellent leisure activity. Inexperienced cyclists are few and far between. Cyclist are expected to ride their bikes in an assertive way. If you have a wobbly and uncertain trajectory, cars tend to overtake. This would make the cycling experience a harrowing experience. But realize that even if you have right of way, a car is still a lot harder then you.

Inside the Delft canal streets, most locals will mount the pavement shortly to let cars past on the canals where possible. This is just courteous because the next time when you are driving the car you hope to be let through as well.

At the train station in Delft you can rent push bikes. To rent a bike you will need a valid ID and a deposit (€50 for a simple bike or €145 for a tandem). The rental fee for a normal bike with a back-pedal brake will be €7,50 per day. (including insurance cover for theft). Often it is possible to rent a bike with gears or one with electric assistance. Especially if you are with a group it is best to reserve the bikes per telephone (015-2143033) beforehand. (Please) Make sure you understand the traffic rules before you set off.

By taxi

Call-taxi [1] telephone: 015 2625425

A Taxi Delft [2] telephone: 015 2612121

Deltax [3] telephone: 015 2191919

Gonet Taxibedrijf [4] telephone: 06 44236252

Lextax VOF [5] telephone: 015 2621211

By car

The old city has been made largely car-free, but there are three large car parks at the edge of the center (Parkeergarage Zuidpoort, Markt and Phoenix). These car parks are expensive, but parking on the few public parking spaces on the streets in or near the city center can be even more expensive. The parking policy differs per area and is not always clear. Beware of the signs "alleen vergunninghouders" (permit holders only) in some streets in the vicinity of the city center, especially in residential areas. Sometimes only a floor tile with a "P" is visible. This means Permit parking. Many tourist assume "P" means parking and end up with a parking fine. Parking is energetically policed. Unauthorized parking will cost you about €70. A 10 minute walk from the centre parking for free can be found at the Nijverheidsplein. The University area will have space in the weekends.

Traffic rules on priority consider the vulnerability of the mode of transport. This means a car has to give way to a bike to avoid a collision. Even a bike travelling the wrong way up a one-way street, without lights, driven by someone clearly over the limit colliding with a car will put that car driver at fault. Because of the risk to the cyclist, the car should have done everything to avoid the collision, or he is at fault.

Be sure to check the mirrors before you make a right turn. There is a good chance a cyclist is between you and the pavement.

See

The municipality of Delft has made a free app available for iPhone and Android. Most things here are listed in the app.

Inside visits

the City Hall

• Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Markt 80, ☏ +31 15 212-3025. Closed on Sundays. 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. You can see both Rotterdam and The Hague. On clear days is it possible to see Leiden and even Amsterdam. It's well worth the effort. (€2.50 extra to climb the tower), A tower ticket gives free entrance to the Old Church. 

the Old Church

• De Prinsenhof, Sint Agathaplein 1, ☏ +31 15 260-2358. Tu-Su 11:00-1:700. 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. Nowadays the complex houses some museums, including the city museum. €7.50. 

• Oude Kerk (Old Church), Heilige Geestkerkhof 25, ☏ +31 15 212-3015. Closed on Sundays. 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. When the tower was build the canal had to be moved away from the church as the tower would have been half in the water. During the building works it became apparent that canal-half of the base soil was not firm enough to support the tower. To compensate for the tilt the upper part of the tower was build with a compensating counter curve. 

• Vermeer Centrum Delft, Voldersgracht 21, ☏ +31 15 2138588. Open all days from 10:00 to 17:00 except 25th December and 1st January. The Vermeer Centrum offers a view on the works and life of the famous 17th century painter Johannes Vermeer. The souterrain houses reproductions from all of his 37 works in chronological order. On the 1st floor, you find the studio of Vermeer that shows the methods and the famous light of Vermeer. On the 2nd floor, the special exhibition "Love Letters from Vermeer" reveals secrets from several famous paintings. 8€. 

• Synagogue, Koornmarkt 12, ☏ +31 15 256-3371. Jun-Oct Sa 14:00-17:00. 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. 

• Porceleyne Fles (Royal Delft factory), Rotterdamseweg 196, ☏ +31 15 251-2030. 09:00-17:00 daily. Around 1750, 32 earthenware factories were located in Delft. Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles is the only factory remaining from that era. It is possible to visit the factory or to participate in a workshop. Guided tour €12. (audioguide € 2). 

• De Candelaer, Kerkstraat 13, ☏ +31 15 213-1848. De Candelaer is a little porcelain factory in the inner city. It is possible to visit De Candelear. 

• Museum Paul Tétar van Elven, Koornmarkt 67, ☏ +31 1521 24 206. 13:00-17:00. This former house of a 19th century artist, Paul Tétar van Elven, is very well preserved, with the original furniture and interior design. 5€. 

• Molen de Roos (windmill), Phoenixstraat 112, ☏ +31 71 501-2672. It is possible to visit the mill if the blue flag is flying. For a group visit, call ahead. 

• Artilleriemagazijn (Artillery Depot), Paardenmarkt 1. 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. 

• Universiteitsbibliotheek (University Library), Prometheusplein 1, ☏ +31 15 278-5678. 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. 

• Botanische Tuin (Botanical Garden), Julianalaan 67, ☏ +31 15 2782356. M-F 8:30-17:00, Sa 10:00-16:00, Su (only May-Sep) 12:00-16:00. 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. €2, free for TU Delft students. 

Museums

• Science Centre Delft, formerly Techniekmuseum (Technology Museum), Mijnbouwstraat 120, ☏ +31 15 2785200. Tu-Sa 10:00-17:00, Su 12:00-17:00. This 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. €2.30. 

Subjects for a city walk

• Almshouses (hofjes)
  • Hofje van Gratie, Van der Mastenstraat 26-38. 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.
  • Hofje van Pauw, Paardenmarkt 54-62. This hofje was built in 1707 as stated in the will of Elizabeth Pauw.
  • Klaeuwshofje, Oranje Plantage 58-77. This hofje was meant for unmarried or widowed Catholic women. It was founded in 1605 by Dirck and Elizabeth Uyttenhage.

• Stadhuis (Town Hall), Markt 78. 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.

• 'Hugo de Groot (Hugo Grotius), Markt. On the market you will find the statue of Hugo Grotius (10 April 1583 – 28 August 1645). Grotius is the Latin version of the Dutch name Hugo de Groot. Grotius was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. He laid the foundations for international law and law of the sea. In 1618 Grotius was sentenced to life imprisonment to the Loevestein Castle, about 75 km south east of Delft. Grotius managed to escape in a book chest. Both the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the museum Het Prinsenhof in Delft claim to have the original book chest in their collection.

• 'Apotheek De Salamander, Markt. On the market you will find this 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.

• Vleeshal (Meat Hall), Voldersgracht 1. 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).

• Visbank (Fish Trade), Cameretten. Fish market, one of the oldest shops in the world. Try a 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.

• Vrouwenregt, in this short street along a from Vrouw Jutteland, is 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.

• VOC-Huis (Dutch East India Company House), Oude Delft 39. The VOC 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.

• Oostpoort (East Gate), Oostpoort 1. 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.

• Agnetapark, Agnetapark. Just northwest, 10 min walk outside the inner city, 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.

• Beestenmarkt, Beestenmarkt. Just 2 min from the main square you find the Beestenmarkt. 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. During December / January an ice rink is build on the square.

Do

• Stroll through town: suggested streets: Oude Delft, Boterbrug, Wijnhaven, Hippolytusbuurt, Choorstraat, Vrouw Jutteland, Rietveld, Kerkstraat, Markt ending at the Beestenmarkt for a refreshment. Most tourists arrive by bus next to the New Church.
• Climb Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) tower. The Hague, Rotterdam and Leiden can be seen from the top. On clear days even Utrecht and Amsterdam can be visible.
• Visit De Porceleyne Fles, or take a workshop
• Rent a bike and visit De Delftse Hout, a park/leisure area to the east of Delft. Cycle through the woods, sail on the lake, have a picnic, walk through the parks
• Visit the botanical garden. Admission €2,00, kids €1,00, Poortlandplein 6, Delft.
• Visit the bric à brac Markets around the central streets (Hippolytusbuurt, Vrouw Jutteland and Voldersgracht) and canals of Central Delft, every Saturday, April - October (free to visit)
• The Canal taxi boat takes you to all the main tourist spots. You can flag a boat on the canals or you can order one by phone on 06 - 22 99 2795. Single fare €2,50 per person. It is also possible to rent the whole boat for € 35,00 per hour for max 8 persons, it will pick you up from where you want.
• Visit the Delft Library. DOK Vesteplein 100. This library was set up very different from other libraries. The books are in cupboarts on wheels. It won several national and international prizes because of its innovative layout and the other facilities and activities available. The reading room with the childerens books is very special. The reading room (and Coffee corner) on the first floor has a fantastic glass ceiling spanning the whole library. There are many international newspapers and magazines available. Open Monday from 12:00 till 18:00 other days mostly 10:00 till 18:00. Closed on Sundays. More details on their (Dutch) website [6]

• Windmill Windlust, Oudeweg 70, Nootdorp, ☏ +31 6-27327289. On the road to Nootdorp 5 km outside Delft, on the IKEA side of the motorway you can find the Windmill Windlust. It is open to the public. Visit their website for the details and exact directions. It is best reached by bike. 

Activities for children

• Petting Zoo (Kinderboerderij Delftse Hout) on the Korftlaan 3, is a 15 minutes walk from the city centre, via the "Koepoort" Bridge. Opening hours 10:00-16:00. Admission free.
• Waterpark, next to the Petting Zoo Delftse Hout. You will find this park geared towards young children. A beach, swings, slides, a cable slide, clean toilet facilities and a maximum water depth of 40 cm (1 ft 3) and free admission make this a popular destination on sunny days. Same entrance as the Petting Zoo. The gate to the waterpark is half-way on the left.
• Play grounds. Delft has five outdoor play grounds. These are outdoor areas with swings and various climbing frames. Target audience: 2 till 12 year olds. The biggest is the one on the Beukenlaan 1. The admission is free. It has toilet facilities and a simple shop for coffee, drinks and ice cream. On sunny days the volunteers sometimes run blow-up paddling pools. Opening hours, Monday till Friday from 13.30 till 17.30 hour.
• Kids Playground Delft (Kleveringweg 35 2616 LZ Delft Tel. 015-2190673) On the other side of the A13 motorway behind the Mc Donalds restaurant is an indoor playpark. Although staff motivation and facilities both need a polish it can provide a channel for excess child energy on rainy days. Wednesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00 admission €7 children and €1.80 per adult.

Lectures

• Every week, Studium Generale organises lectures on a wide range of subjects. Usually these are in Dutch, but roughly once a month there may be one in English too. The lectures aim at the interest of students, but other people interested may often attend as well. Admission is usually free [7].

Theatres and cinemas

• There are a few theaters in the inner city; Theater de Veste, Vesteplein 1 [8] is the largest theater, with shows almost every night (except during summer). The Microtheater, next to the New Church is a small theatre with around one show per week.
• There are two cinemas in Delft. Filmhuis Lumen is a small pleasant cinema run mostly by friendly volunteers. It has a very nice foyer. It shows mostly non-Hollywood and art-house movies. Also the film "Girl with the pearl earring" is shown here once a week. Doelenplein 5 [9]. Hollywood blockbusters can be seen in Pathé Delft, Vesteplein 5 [10]. This is a new, large scale cinema near the Theater de Veste in the Zuidpoort (big screen, large comfy seats, expensive drinks and pre-made perfectly round popcorn).

City tours

• Channel cruise (Rondvaart Delft), Koornmarkt 133, ☏ +31 15 2016385. daily 11-17. Experience a different view on Delft from a canal boat (Dutch / English tour guide). €6. 
• Tour the sights of Delft in a horse-drawn tram if you like a bumpy ride surrounded in the smell of manure. It starts on the market square.

Annual events

Especially during summer there are several annual events to visit, most of them are in the open air and free to visit. For a list of upcoming events, you can check out the Event calendar: [11]. An incomplete list of annual events:

• Mooi Weer Spelen, creative event with street theatre (free), exhibitions and theatre shows on special locations (some of them are free), one entire weekend, usually somewhere in June [12]
• Taptoe, National event of non-military marching bands performing parades and demonstrations, usually the first weekend of September (free)
• Westerpop, (rock) music festival with local, national and international artists, usually the last weekend of August (free) [13]
• Varend corso, flower decorated boats sailing from the Westland (the glasshouse area where special flowers are grown) to Delft, usually a Sunday in the beginning of August (free)
• Lichtjesavond ("evening of lights"), evening with Christmas atmosphere, where Christmas songs are sung, a large Christmas tree on the central market square and many, many lights. Usually on a Tuesday evening, halfway December (free)
• Open Monumentendag ("day of the open monuments"), on this national event, many monumental buildings can be visited for free, which are otherwise closed to the public. This includes climbing to the top of "Molen De Roos", the windmill on Phoenixstraat 112, and visiting the former city prison and torturing room (backside of the City Hall), where the alleged murderer of William of Orange was tortured in 1584. It usually takes place on a Saturday. Inform at the tourism office when the next open monumentendag is held.
• Muziek op de Gracht ("Music on the canals"), in July and August free concerts are given on boats on the Vrouw Jutteland Canal.
• Delft Jazz three days in August at least 20 pubs and outside podia are participating in Delft Jazz. It attracts a friendly crowd of people. Look at their website for details [14]

Buy

Traditional Delft pottery. Avoid anything that says "Holland" on it, or depicts windmills. Check out the antique stores if you want something really traditional.

The shopping area in the city spreads roughly from the "Zuidwal" on the south to the "Choorstraat" on the north. The national and international stores like C&A, H&M and McDonald's concentrate on the southern part of the city, while the more alternative small stores and gift shops can be found more to the north. Apart from some supermarkets, shops are usually closed on Sundays and on Monday mornings.

• Vrouwjuttenland: In this short street along a canal, near the New Church, alternative clothing and gift stores can be found. Pipe or cigar smokers should definitely visit "Van Renssen". The street also contains an organic/health food supermarket. On summer evenings, once a week there are performances of musical artists, performing from a boat on the canal. Check the health food supermarket for the exact dates.

• Choorstraat: Just around the corner from the Vrouwjuttenland, the Choorstraat can be found. This pleasant small street offers a variety of stores, like a drugstore selling all sorts of tea, an international gift store selling everything from tajinnes to buddha statues, a chocolate store, a gameshop and a large book store with many international newspapers.

• Hippolytusbuurt: At the end of the Choorstraat, until Wijnhaven is Hippolytusbuurt. This is one of the two major canals. It boasts the one of the oldest shops in the world. The Fish shop dates from 1342. The Tourist information point is here. A funny little sweety shop, two toy shops, two hairdressers, a Moroccan butcher with an excellent selection of olives and tapanades and two upmarket restaurants.

• Bastiaansplein: The newest shopping area in town, consisting of a large supermarket (7 days a week open until 22:00) and several clothing stores. Tiles in the street light up at night.
• Voldersgracht: For those who need good advise on tasteful alcoholic beverages, they definitely should visit the store Wines and Whisky's. Furthermore the Voldersgracht holds a large record shop, which sells a wide range of LP's and CD's from all ages. The street also has a religious gift shop, the Bijbel-In.
• Martinus Nijhofflaan: The "Hovenpassage" is a covered shopping area, 15 minutes of walking outside the city centre. The shops are smaller and less alternative, but it contains a wide variety of stores and a large supermarket, the "Jumbo". Another large supermarket, the Albert Heijn, is on the other side of the street.
• Oude Delft: Wine shop "Van Dorp" is located near the Old Church. The shop is in the vaulted basement of a monumental house. The atmosphere inside is cool and tranquil and worth a visit by itself. The shop has an extensive selection of wine in every price category. The customer service is highly personal and very friendly. Because the shop doesn't lend itself to much browsing the shopkeeper (a wine connoisseur himself) will try and find out what is to your liking and then recommend a suiting wine without pushing expensive wines. The venue can also be hired for wine tasting sessions. A visit here will cure you from supermarket wine forever.

Eat

Bulding bordering the market place

Note that restaurants on the central marketplace can be more expensive than those in back-streets.

• Chocolaterie De Lelie, Voorstraat 10, 2611 JP Delft, ☏ +31 15 212 0363. Great place to get ice cream. Try the dark chocolate. They also make their own chocolates. (updated May 2015)

Pie and lunch

• Kobus Kuch, Beestenmarkt 1. The café Kobus Kuch has a nice choice of lunch breads, but is probably best known for its home made pies, and particularly its appeltaart with whipped cream. If the personnel is not to busy to bake one for you, you can even order an entire pie to take home. 
• Lunchroom Leonidas, Choorstraat. Named after the Belgian chocolates (which they sell too), has nice lunch breads and a wide variety of tea. During summer time you can take your lunch out in the patio at the back. Bonus here: no background music! 
• Kleyweg's Stads-koffyhuis, Oude Delft 133. Kleyweg's Stads-koffyhuis is a favorite lunch place of many locals and undoubtedly sports the best sandwiches in town. It can be a bit crowded around lunch time however, so be on time. Otherwise stop there for coffee, Dutch coffee is consistently excellent, and goes well with the ubiquitous (and delicious) Dutch apple cake. It has a terrace boat in summer time which provides a lovely view of the oude delft canal. 
• 1 Michel Boulanger, Oude Kerkstraat 3, 2611 HT Delft, Nederland, ☏ +31 6 24 34 94 15. 8am-5pm Mo-Fr, 8.30am-5pm Sat, 9am-3pm Sun. Great little bakeries that does breads, sandwiches and cakes. €5-10. (updated May 2015)

Markets

On Thursday and Saturday a market is held in Delft centre. Fresh produce, fish and flowers and non-food at bargan prices. Services like watch repair and mobile phone unlocking are also available. Try the sweet smelling freshly made "Stroopwafels" (syrup waffles). Try a herring or "Kibbeling" deepfried battered fish.

Restaurants

• Pizzeria Dennis, Nieuwstraat 8, ☏ +31 15 215-8677. 16:00-22:00 daily. Reasonable pizzas and Middle Eastern dishes (shawarma/kebab). Relatively cheap. The place is much more oriented on take-aways than on eat-ins. No reservation needed. Has a nice website especially the registered users section. Pizza €5-7.50, Meals €10-14.50, Drinks €1.50. 

• Spijshuis de Dis, Beestenmarkt 36, ☏ +31 15 213-1782. Authentic Dutch fare, based on recipes of the Dutch Golden Age. 

• Japanese Restaurant FuSha, Choorstraat 36, ☏ +31 15 212-6026. Japanese sushi restaurant. Nice, serene atmosphere. A set sushi meal takes a whole evening. Limited choice of wine. Not too expensive. Take away possible. Sushi making workshops available. 

• Abyssinia, Kromstraat 21, ☏ +31 15 213-5260. Abyssinia is one of the best restaurants in Delft. Good food for a reasonable price. If normal restaurants with their standard menus are getting boring Abyssinia is a good recommendation. Deliciously aromatic food. All food is served with "pancakes" as cutlery. Emphasis on the quality of the food instead of the interior. 

• Bruintje Beer, Beestenmarkt, ☏ +31 15 212-6390. Very busy restaurant. It works according to the more than you can eat principle. The portions are large. The meat servings are big. Every thing is served with plenty of carbs like chips, potato or rice. A token amount of salad is added. Very good place to go with a group. Very good value and quick service. Not the best place for a diner for two. Delivery also possible. 

• Ladera, Oosteinde 123, ☏ +31 15 212-5950. M-F 16:30-20:00. Affordable traditional Dutch menu. Join the locals for a chat at the main table, have your own table, or eat in the garden (out the back, not indicated). Service fast and friendly, no reservation needed. Ask for special dishes, not indicated on the menu. Dinner €6.50-9.50, coffee €1. 

• Vlaanderen, Beestenmarkt 16, ☏ +31 15 213-3311. Nice location for lunch or dinner. Excellent food, gorgeous presentation, extensive winelist, not cheap, sometimes activities take place, such as an open stage. Check out the patio at the back. When making reservations ask for the patio. Lunch €10, dinner about €30, 3 course menue about €35. The menu has theme ans changes every three months. 

• Café de V, Voorstraat 9, ☏ +31 15 2140916. Excellent food, probably the best price/quality ratio in Delft, where food and hotels are generally overpriced. Daily menu at unbeatable prices (except maybe "De Ruif"). €7.50. Dinner about €10-20. 

• Eetcafé de Ruif, Kerkstraat 22-24, ☏ +31 15 2142206. Excellent food at acceptable prices, the best place in Delft for a sunny summer day, food served in the garden and on a barge with sunshine till late in the evening. Daily menu at low prices is usually out at about 20:00. Dinner €15-20. 

• Eettafel Sint Jansbrug, Oude Delft 50-52, ☏ +31 15 212-0619. The largest venue of Delft with a changing clientele of students and non-students. On weekdays you can enjoy a meal from 17:30 to 19:30 for a small price. Soup, main course and dessert for less than €4.50. 

• Stadscafé De Waag, Markt 11, ☏ +31 15 2130393. Not so simple restaurant, caters often for groups. Prices are OK. 

• LEF Restaurant, Doelenplein 2, ☏ +31 15 2120617. Very nice Paris bistro style restaurant/bar. Sit outside under the trees in the summer. Great place for sundowners. Sandpit for the kids available. Great food, low prices. €12-18. 

• Olympia, Hippolytusbuurt 43, ☏ +31 15 213-6579. Greek restaurant. Lots of seats, but cozy atmosphere. Outside terrace with a view of the Oude Kerk. Large portions of good quality food (try the specials!) at reasonable prices. Very fast service. Main courses €15-25. 

• Malee, Voldersgracht 29, ☏ +31 15 2120781. Closed on Mondays. Authentic Thai food in a small restaurant. Every day, "auntie Malee" cooks a 3 course dinner for her guests. Not as spicy as you'll get in Thailand, but still a treat for your taste buds. Reservation advisable for larger groups. 3 course meal €15. 

• Mañana Mañana, Verwersdijk 124, ☏ +31 15 2141472. A wide variety of tapas in a Spanish restaurant, also much choice for veggies. A bit outside the city centre, but worth the walk. 3 course meal around €20-25. 

• Het Pakhuis, Phoenixstraat 4c, ☏ +31 15 212-5925. Tapas-like design restaurant on the edge of the inner city. About twenty totally different dishes, also five recommendable ones for veggies. Tram 1 stops almost in front of the entrance. Good price/quality ratio. 3 plates of tapas, a drink and a dessert around €30-35. 

• 'Le Vieux Jean, Heilige Geestkerkhof 3, ☏ +31 15 213 04 3. Lunch 12:00-14:30, dinner 18:00-22:30. Le Vieux Jean is an expensive French restaurant with very good food. Expect to pay €80 per person for a starter, main, desert and wine. The restaurants has a very extensive wine list. Make sure you reserve seating in the downstairs restaurant. A private room is available. Their lunch menu will satisfy the most critical customer. Expect the highest quality in both the service and food in Delft. The price reflects this. 

• Stadsherberg De Mol, Molslaan 104, ☏ +31 15 2121343. Who wants to eat having a medieval experience, should definitely visit this restaurant. Bring a bag of money, it's not cheap. 

• Maharani, Nieuwe Langendijk 59. One of the better Indian restaurants in the area, and slightly cheaper than it's Den Haag based counterpart. Popular also with Indian expats and foreign students. Vegetarians must try the Vegetarian Tandoori Paneer. Notice that the multi-person menus are not calculated per menu, but per person. Expect to pay around €14-17 for a vegetarian dish or €16-20 for something with meat. 

• Peking, Brabantse Turfmarkt 78. One of the many Chinese restaurants in town. Also popular for take away and delivery. Chinese food to take away is served in large quantities. Expect to feed four people with a meal for two. A take away meal for four people will set you back around €14-17. 

• Daily Wok, Oude Langendijk 23d. Concept restaurant where Asian food is prepared in an open kitchen. A very good deal that's popular with students. €5-6. 

• Bram Ladage, Paradijspoort 8. Traditional chips or fries made from fresh thick-cut potatoes. Fries from Ladage are the best you can get. Anywhere. Potatoes are cut on the premises and hand cooked, no frozen factory chips here. Fantastic taste and quality. Go native with mayonnaise or satay sauce (peanut-butter sauce). A combination of the two is also possible for the very brave. Popular finger food. Excellent deal at €2-3. 

• De Parel van Flores, Voldersgracht 31, ☏ +31 15 213-0946. Authentic Indonesian cuisine (unlike the other indo-chin-thai places in town). Family owned with reasonable prices and OK food. The service and quality get mixed reviews. No reservation needed. Appetizers €5, Meals €10. 

• Restaurant Het Klooster, Vrouwjutteland. New spin off from the Belgian beer pub next door. Nice concept: most dishes are made with beer. Pleasant location and layout. Decent prices, modest portions. The service is very European. 

If you are on a really tight budget, many student societies provide food, for a modest price (around €4). To check what is on offer look here.

Drink

view from canal cafe

Try the local Delftse Mueselare Bier.

• Al fresco at one of the many bars around the market square, or on a floating terrace (apparently unique to Delft) on a canal.
• "De Beestenmarkt"; around this square in the city centre are many pubs and bars. In the summer it is filled with people drinking a beer under the maple tree canopy.
• Many students get a drink at their fraternity (extremely cheap). Mostly you need to be a member or be introduced.

Specific cafés

• Jazzcafé Bebop, Kromstraat, a good café where the music is not so loud that you can't hear each other speaking, where the bartender is friendly and the visitors are on average around 25-30 (outside the weekends maybe somewhat older). It has a wide variety of beers and during summer the patio at the back is open.

• Bier café Het Klooster, Vrouw Jutteland, is a beer café with an excellent (200+) selection of beers. It is very small but you can sit outside and enjoy a very beautiful view. There is no TV so football supporters avoid it. The restaurant next door cooks with the special beers. Not only the beers are foreign, the café is popular hang out for international students and expats.

• Knus, Zavelpad 3, 015-2122990. In the forest next to Delft lies a pleasant establishment for coffee and snacks. Most people arrive by bike after a tour around the woods. There is a sandpit with water for the children and a few other play things. It has water bikes for rent. Popular with children. [15]

• Café du Midi, Noordeindseweg 70, Delfgauw, 015 2157469. In the fields next to the Delft forest (behind Ikea) lies a relaxed café. It takes great pride is serving high quality local products. Petting zoo on the premises. Walkabout chickens everywhere. Tree shaded sitting area. usually busy. Also pleasantly priced. Most visitors are cyclist. Certainly worth a visit if you have a bike. (it also is accessible by car)[16]

Nightlife

There are a few places to go out and dance:

• The Koornbeurs (alternative student fraternity and youth society, no membership needed) has a disco on Friday and a more underground scene on Saturday. The average age of the visitors is about 17.
• The Lorre. This is a student disco that belongs to a fraternity (DSC). It is not always open to the public.
• Cine Dans Cafe (still under construction, not open yet). This one is just new and located near the theatre (theater de Veste).
• Ciccionina, info@ciccionina.nl. Kromstraat 24. Opening hours: each Friday and Saturday from 23:00 till 05:00, other opening times may vary. A small venue in the city centre with a huge variety of electronic music and concerts. The crowd is mixed, usually there are mostly students. Sometimes the place is half-empty, sometimes its packed (about 100 people) Entrance fee: usually between 0 and 4 Euro. 

Cannabis

Use of cannabis, weed or hashish is legal in small amounts (5 grams or less) in the Netherlands. Dutch law enforcement tolerates its use in so-called coffeeshops. There are 5 coffeeshops in Delft. The Future in the Peperstraat 8, de Vlouw on the Vlouw 27, The Game on the Breestraat 30, 't Keldertje on the Kromstraat 22a and De Boeddha on the Achterom 19a. The Game and The Future are both exceptional places for Lattes and herbs.

Sleep

Hotels

• Hotel Coen Delft, Coenderstraat 47, ☏ +31 15 214-5914. Comfortable, clean, reasonably priced and right next to the railway station, the only hotel in Delft offering a free sauna for its guests. Also offering a free Wi-Fi service and a lobby computer. 40 rooms. Double room €110, breakfast €12. 
• Hotel de Emauspoort Delft, Vrouwenregt 9-11, ☏ +31 15 219-0219. Right behind the New Church. 23 rooms. Double room €100, breakfast included. 
• Hotel Grand Canal, Breestraat 1, ☏ +31 15 215-7133. Housed in a historic building (former city prison and VOC building) overlooking the canals, 2 minutes from the railway station. Clean and well-furnished, not very wheelchair-friendly. Wi-Fi available. Double room €95-150, breakfast €16. 
• Hotel de Plataan, Doelenplein 10, ☏ +31 15 212-6046. Unique and stylish hotel. Themed rooms are available. Look at their website for details. Great location, reasonable prices. Free Wi-Fi. Single/double room €99/114. breakfast €15. 

• Westcord, Olof Palmestraat 2 (Exit Delft centrum), ☏ +31 15 888-9010. WestCord Hotel Delft is a showcase for Ikea. Everything is Ikea. The chairs, the bed, the cutlery, everything. Odd atmosphere, like sleeping in an Ikea store... 110. 

• Jorplace City Hostel, Voldersgracht 16–18. A city center hostel that has 3 choices: a 24 persons room at €21, a 12 persons room at €25 and a 6 persons room at €27 per night. Bookings only per email. 

• Hampshire Hotel Delft Centre, Koepoortplaats 3, ☏ +31 15 212-2125, reserveringen@hoteldelftcentre.nl. Hotel parking at kKepoortparking. 

Bed and breakfast

There are several bed and breakfasts in Delft [17] [18].

Holiday rental houses

There are several international websites offering canal houses for rent. Mostly these rentals need to be organised some time in advance. Because they are only slightly more expensive then a hotel room, they can work out to be cheaper for families with children who want their own room. Add the privacy and the facilities and they can be a very good alternative to a hotel or B&B. The three mayor websites competing are: [19], [20] and [21]

Long Term rentals

Most estate agents in the Netherlands are a working together. This means real estate for sale and rent are pooled on a website covering nearly everything on the market. The advantage is that one website has most properties. The disadvantages of a near monopoly are also obvious. Long term stay houses for expatiates and Phd students can be found here: [22]

Camping

There are three campgrounds in Delft.

• Camping Delfse Hout is located near a small artificial lake, suited for swimming. A camping spot for two persons, including a car costs between €19,5 and €24. Cabins (for three/four persons) are also available for €36. Cottages can be rented for €265 per week. Services include a restaurant, recreation room, supermarket, launderette, playground, table tennis, bike rent, swimming pool. This is not a quiet place. Korftlaan 5, tel: 015 2130040.

• If you look for a smaller setting, try Uylenburg. Sites cost €10.5 for a tent/caravan/camper or €7.5 for a two person tent. Additionally you have to pay €2,5 per person. There is also a very pleasant guesthouse. Rooms are €45/50/75 for 1/2/4 persons. Breakfast is €6 per person. Tel.: 015-2143732, e-mail: herberg@uylenburg.nl.

• Even smaller is De Grutto. This is definitely only for the real nature lover. You have to be a member of NIVON to camp here. There are only 25 spots. For more information call Mrs. W. Klunder tel. 079 - 341 83 25 (18.00 - 20.00). Directions, take bus 64 from Delft Station. Ask the driver to let you out at Rietzangerstraat, it is a 30 minute walk from there.

Stay healthy

The European telephone number for emergencies is 112. Fire, ambulance or police can be called out on this number. Mobile phones without caller credit can still call this number.

General practitioner

Family doctors (GPs) outside working hours (8:00 till 17:00) and for non-registered patients can be found at the "huisartsenpost", Reinier de Graafweg 3a, 2625 AD. (the white portacabin, next to the ambulance entrance), telephone (015) 251 19 30. Call before you visit. Visit: € 65,14, consultation at home: € 97,40. Paid parking on hospital grounds.

For prescription medication outside working hours, got to Apothecary "Buitenhof Apotheek" on the Rossinistraat 1, 2625 AP Delft. Telephone: (015) 245 42 00.

Cope

Religious Services

There are several church services available also in English. Some of them offer partly English spoken services, others offer translations by a headset or written on paper (both handed over at the entrance). The list below is not complete, but gives an impression of the possibilities.

• International Reformed Evangelical Fellowship (Ecumenic service), Heilige Geestkerkhof 25. [23] Sun: 12:00 noon (in English)

• Delft Christian Fellowship (Evangelistic/Charismatic service), Cort van der Lindenstraat 1. [24] Sun:??:?? (Indonesian / English / Dutch)

• Levend Water (Evangelistic/Charismatic service), Hermesstraat 65. [25] Sun: 10:00 AM (Dutch / English)

• Gereformeerde Kerk vrijgemaakt (Reformed), Schoemakerstraat 1. [26] Sun: 11:00 AM (Dutch, with English translation on paper)

Go next

Take tramline 1 to Scheveningen. It terminates right on the beach. It takes about 1 h to get there (the same trip by train is faster, you have to change in Den Haag). Also, rent a bike and go exploring, go west to go to The Hague. Schipluiden is a very small town and a popular watering hole for cyclist. Cycling to Hoek van Holland is nice when you want to see the big seagoing ships. The whole route from Rotterdam to the Hoek of Holland has an excellent cycle path. Great views. If you only want to cycle one way there is a train station at Hoek van Holland. You can take your bike on the train for about 7.50 euro.

You can cycle to The Hague in 30 min. Start at the Oostsingel and follow the canal. It is well-sign-posted. Also, The Hague is visible as soon as you leave Delft.

Routes through Delft

Amsterdam ← The Hague ←

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