Day trip from Amsterdam
Delft
Blue Pottery & Golden Age Charm
Approximately 1 hour by train
Why visit
Delft is a small, beautifully preserved canal city where Vermeer painted and the House of Orange is buried. The hand-painted blue-and-white pottery that carries its name is still produced here, and the whole centre can be walked in an afternoon.
Top things to see
- The Markt, framed by the Nieuwe Kerk and the town hall
- The Nieuwe Kerk tower and the royal crypt
- Royal Delft, the last remaining 17th-century Delftware factory
- The Oude Kerk and its leaning tower
- The canals and bridges of the old town
Suggested one-day plan
Arrive mid-morning, walk into the centre and climb the Nieuwe Kerk tower for the rooftop view.
Lunch on the Markt, then wander the canals and the Oude Kerk.
Visit Royal Delft to see the painters at work, then browse the pottery shops.
Return to Amsterdam in the early evening.
Direct trains from Amsterdam Centraal take around an hour, some requiring a simple change at Den Haag or Rotterdam. Delft station is a 5-minute walk from the old centre; Royal Delft is a further 20-minute walk or a short bus ride south.
Around 6 hours, with 4 hours in the city itself.
- Thursday and Saturday markets fill the Markt square.
- The Nieuwe Kerk tower is a steep, narrow climb of nearly 400 steps.
- Royal Delft is the only original factory — many shops sell mass-produced imitations.
- Delft pairs easily with The Hague if you want two stops in one day.