This tour will take you through the historical heart of Delft with an enthusiastic local as your guide, whose passion for the city is infectious. Experience the beauty of the historic Market Square, the tranquility of the churches and canals and the excitement of the city's young population.
The guide will regale you with stories that breathe life into Delft's history and culture. In Delft, everything comes together: you will walk in the footsteps of the Father of the Fatherland, get to know the Dutchman who discovered microbes, and of course you'll learn about the master of light himself, Johannes Vermeer. All while walking along the canals of the quaintest city of Holland.
Expect to hear interesting stories and to get real insider tips that only locals know about! You will see and understand things that would otherwise go unnoticed.
This tour takes 2 hours and it starts and ends in the city center. It can be booked in English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian or French.
If desired, you can be picked up from any place in the city centre, just let us know!
You will meet your guide on the market square, next to the statue of Hugo Grotius. That is in front of the New Church.
Your guide will welcome you on Delft’s historic Market Square, one of the oldest market squares in the Netherlands, beside the statue of Hugo Grotius. This is both the starting and ending point of the tour. The New Church is the burial place of the Dutch royal family and of Grotius himself, and its tower is the second tallest church tower in the country. During the tour, your guide will place this iconic landmark in its historical and cultural context.
The historic Town Hall of Delft is one of the city’s most significant civic buildings. Your guide will pass by it when leaving the Market Square on the way to the Old Church. Behind its elegant Renaissance façade lies a turbulent history of fires, justice, and city governance, including its role as a former prison.
After leaving the Market Square, your guide will pass the former Butter House, the old Weigh House, and the historic home of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, before entering Delft’s former beer-brewing quarter. Here stands the Old Church, famous for its strikingly leaning tower. Inside lies the grave of Johannes Vermeer. Your guide will explain why its tower began to lean almost as soon as construction started.
Opposite the Old Church stands the Prinsenhof, a former monastery that later became a residence for William of Orange, known as the Father of the Fatherland. This site played a decisive role in Dutch history, as William of Orange was assassinated here in 1584. Your guide will explain how this event shaped the future of the Netherlands and why Delft became so closely linked to the House of Orange.
While walking along the Oude Delft canal, your guide will point out the oldest surviving house in the city. Since 1645, this richly decorated building has housed the local Water Board. Your guide will explain what a water board is, why it was vital to the survival and prosperity of Delft, and why water management has always been a matter of life and death in the Netherlands.
Continuing south along the Oude Delft canal, your guide will pass some of the city’s most impressive historic residences. In the south of the city, you'll find two powerful reminders of Delft’s Golden Age: the former state weapons armory and the main building of the Delft chamber of the Dutch East India Company. Your guide will explain Delft’s role in the military, maritime, and commercial expansion of the Dutch Republic. Nearby, you will also see the exact location where Johannes Vermeer stood when he painted his famous View of Delft.
Walking north along Delft’s second-oldest canal, once the city’s grain market, your guide will pass the former synagogue of Delft. This building reflects the long presence of a Jewish community in the city.
The tour concludes at the Beestenmarkt, a former animal market located just behind the Market Square where the walk began. Today, this lively and picturesque square is one of Delft’s most popular gathering places, lined with cafés and restaurants. If you want, your guide will be happy to share local tips on where to enjoy a good beer, casual snacks, or a relaxed dinner, so you can make the most of the rest of your stay in Delft.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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