Delft
A small canal city between Rotterdam and The Hague, known for Delft Blue pottery, Johannes Vermeer and its medieval churches.
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Delft is a historic city and municipality in South Holland, in the Netherlands, between Rotterdam and The Hague. Its canal centre has many monumental buildings and typical canal bridges, and about one million tourists visit each year. The city is known for Delftware, the blue-and-white pottery styled on 17th-century Chinese porcelain, and for painter Johannes Vermeer, who was born here in 1632. William of Orange was shot dead in the Prinsenhof in 1584.
Trains to Rotterdam and The Hague run as often as every five minutes for most of the day, so Delft fits easily into a trip to either city. The sights sit in the old centre, which you can walk around. Plan time for the Nieuwe Kerk, which holds William of Orange's tomb, the Oude Kerk, where Vermeer is buried, and Royal Delft, the main place to see Delft Blue made. The Mooiweerspelen street theatre takes place in June and the Jazz Festival runs across the centre in August.
Delft in five
- Use the Vermeer Centre for contextVoldersgracht 21, open every day 10:00 to 17:00. It describes itself as the largest information centre about Vermeer, his work, his life and his city.
- See Vermeer's paintings in The HagueThe Mauritshuis holds Girl with a Pearl Earring, back from loan on 5 October 2026. View of Delft is in Madrid until 10 January 2027, so check the loan list first.The Hague
- Decide on the pottery factory earlyRoyal Delft runs a museum and factory in Delft. Check hours and booking on its own site, and decide whether you want a factory visit or a quick look at Delft Blue in shops.
- Choose between the churches and the squareThe Nieuwe Kerk stands on the Markt. Check current hours and tower access with the church before you plan the day around a climb.
- Use Delft as a base only for slow tripsDelft works as a quiet base for The Hague, Rotterdam and the coast by train. For a short stay it fits more easily as a half-day stop.Where to stay in The Hague
Things to do in Delft
See all attractions in Delft
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS) or Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM), by train
- Getting there
- NS trains on the Rotterdam and The Hague line; tram from The Hague
- Getting around
- On foot; the center is small and mostly flat
- Best base
- The old center near the Markt
- Time needed
- Half a day to 1 day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°CoolMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Spring, bulbsAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, bulbs
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low16°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Wet, windyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, short days
Average daily high and low in Delft, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Delft
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 86%
- Wind
- 15 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 94%
Delft
11:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°94%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Tue11°5°6%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Wed9°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°1°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°1°4%Saturday: Fog. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sun11°5°14%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 09:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to Delft
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Rules for Delft, checked
- Vermeer Centre Delft: open every day, 10:00 to 17:00, at Voldersgracht 21; an adult ticket lists at €15.00 with an audio tour.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Delft
Mauritshuis and Vermeer's paintings, a short ride away
Read the guideRotterdamHarbor and modern architecture on the same line
Read the guideLeidenAnother canal town of museums
Read the guideSouth Holland & ZeelandRegion planner: Keukenhof, Kinderdijk and the coast
Read the guideThe Hague or Rotterdam?Pick a bigger city to pair with Delft
Read the guideTransport in EuropeRail passes, tickets and when a pass pays off
Read the guideAll of the NetherlandsDelft between The Hague and Rotterdam on the map
Read the guideDelft FAQ
Is Delft worth visiting?
Yes, as a small, walkable canal town with Delft Blue and Vermeer history, best paired with The Hague or Rotterdam. It is less useful as a long stay unless you want a quiet base.
Can you see Vermeer paintings in Delft?
The Vermeer Centre is an information centre about the painter. His paintings hang in other museums, including the Mauritshuis in The Hague, where loans change what is on view.
How long do you need in Delft?
Half a day covers the Markt, a canal walk and one stop. A full day adds the pottery workshop or a church tower.
Is Delft a good base for The Hague?
Yes. Delft is a quiet, walkable alternative to a hotel in The Hague, with frequent trains and trams. Check the total price at booking, including local tourist tax.
Is Delft a day trip from Amsterdam?
It can be, by NS train, but it is more efficient to pair it with The Hague on the same day or to treat it as a stop between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.