Delft

Historic city center on the water, with the Markt as the radiant centerpiece.

Explore the city guide for Delft

Delft is compact, and that is precisely its strength. Everything is within walking distance of the Markt: the two large churches, the town hall, the canals with their little bridges, and the courtyards hidden behind an inconspicuous gate. You don't walk out of the city here; you walk through it, and into a little street time and again.

It is also a city with a great story. Here, the Oranjes held court in the Prinsenhof, here Vermeer painted, and here Van Leeuwenhoek was the first to look at a world no one had yet seen. At the same time, the university provides youthful energy: waterside terraces, small shops in the side streets, and a buzzing square on market days.

Whoever gives Delft a day gets a city in return that feels bigger than it is.