24 hours in Delft, Netherlands

We left Amsterdam and arrived in Delft just as the sun was starting to creep behind the trees and allowing that beautiful glow on the canals.  At first glance, Delft was simply gorgeous.  We walked to our quaint Inn right next to the main city square and then went out to explore.

You probably only need 24 hours in Delft if you are on tight time frame like we were, but I definitely think that will be time well spent.  However, you can also make Delft a day trip from Amsterdam because it is only an hour train ride away.  Here are our top eat, explore, and sleep suggestions for your visit to Delft!
Eat:  One of our favorite meals throughout our entire European experience (well during this trip at least) was in Delft, a restaurant recommended by Lonely Planet, De Oude Jan.  Of course, one of the main reasons why we loved it so much was because the boys were napping in their stroller while we were there, so it really felt like a date (a "nap date" as we call them).  It was fantastic to sit and have an (inexpensive) glass of wine and eat a delicious salad.  Matt enjoyed a local beer and burger.  The view was great too.  We comfortably sat outside under a little umbrella looking at Delft's old church dating from the 13th century... it was perfect.  After dinner when the kids woke up from their naps we all got ice cream at the popular local shop Chocolaterie De Lelie.   We chose this place because it always had a line down the street every time we walked by it- and it really was amazing... so creamy!


Explore:  When we first arrived at the train station of Delft, the first thing we noticed was the old windmill in the distance.  I don't know why we have such an obsession with windmills but there's something about them that feels so Dutch.  I think it's really neat that Delft has a windmill right in the city (as most windmills are set a bit away).
Delft is known for its blue painted china.  We had so much fun exploring little shops and looking at all the intricate handwork of the local artisans.  Of course, with toddlers, we had to be very specific with our three year old that he must keep his hands behind his back at all tines when we were in the "fancy" stores and Christopher stayed in his stroller.  We found a ton of little ceramic shops right in Delft's main square.  Another thing to explore is a climb up the "new" church (built circa 1500) for a fantastic view of the city.  (We, unfortunately, skipped this with the boys.)  Honestly, it was just fun for us to have no agenda and weave up and down the little streets admiring the adorable buildings and canals that ran along most of the streets! 


Sleep:  We stayed at a charming Inn called Hotel de Emauspoort.  It was perfect for our family because it was centrally located right outside the city square, and we had a bedroom and loft with two beds for the boys to sleep (and a gate/railing around the stairs to keep them contained while they were up there).  Our room overlooked one of the many canals that weaves throughout the small city and it definitely felt like "Europe". Our room was a tad bit (ok, very) outdated, although we felt that it really added to the charm of the whole experience so that didn't bother us one bit.  Our biggest complaint was that there was no air conditioning.   We did have nice big windows that we kept open most of the afternoon and early evening... until dusk came and the mosquitoes were out.  Fortunately, it rained that next morning, which definitely cooled off the room, but the stuffy room made sleeping somewhat uncomfortable.  Breakfast is included in your stay, and although simple, it was adequate for our family; the boys enjoyed eating some fresh fruit!
Delft is great for young families because it's small and easy to get around everywhere.  As compared to Amsterdam, it is a lot less busy and definitely a more wholesome atmosphere which we really appreciated!

Comments

  1. Just one word: gorgeous!!! your pictures of Delft is sooper beautiful. I am visiting Amsterdam this fall and I am sure it will be amazing, I will pin your post and include Delft to my AMS itinerary

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    1. Aww thank you! Delft was beautiful and I would definitely recommend a day trip there from Amsterdam!

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  2. I travelled through Netherlands a few years ago and wanted to visit Delft because of the blue painted china! But for some reason, I didn't end up going. There's just so much to see in the country and will definitely have to make my way back. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yes, the blue painted china is adorable! I would love to go back when my kids are older (or I have more luggage space) and pick out a few pieces!!! It's all so beautiful!

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  3. Delft looks so cute and way more Dutch than Amsterdam! If you liked Delft you should definitely check out Maastricht as it reminds me of it.

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    1. Oh really!? Thanks for suggesting that... next time! :)

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  4. Your photos are incredible! Makes me want to visit so much more! I love all the windmills and just canal views. Such a lovely part of the world. Thanks for the inspo!

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    1. Aww, you are so sweet! Yes, it really was so picturesque there!

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  5. Aaaw, Delft looks so pretty! Do you think it is possible to visit it as a day trip from Amsterdam?

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    1. Yes, definitely! That's what most people do! We really enjoyed staying there though, it was a nice break from the business of Amsterdam!

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  6. Always looking for day trips from Amsterdam I always seem to find cheap flights there from the US!

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    1. Really?! From what airport!?? We flew out of Toronto and got a pretty good direct flight deal... Hope you can go!!!

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  7. We bought ourselves a delft vase as a souvenir in Amsterdam but didn't get a chance to visit Delft. I would love to go back to see the process of how delft china is made :)

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    1. Aww, what a great souvenir! Delft is an adorable city and we would definitely recommend it if you are back in the Netherlands!

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  8. I bet your "nap date" went well! I loved reading about it! Delft is such a lovely place and your photographs are so beautiful. I too love windmills, but have never seen any closely.

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    1. Aww thank you! We love "nap dates" in this season of our life we have to be very strategic in how squeeze quality time together!

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  9. Delft is so charming! Love the views of the canal - and that burger looks pretty sweet as well.

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    1. Lol! Yes, I'm pretty sure Matt was in burger heaven! ;-)

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  10. Looks like a totally cute place to visit and get your bike on, like so many places in Netherlands. I hope to go back and see more of the netherlands in the future as I've only been to the capital and nearby windmill town. Love your recommendations.

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    1. Thank you!! Yes, Delft is a great "bike" city!!!

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  11. Veel in Delft geweest voor mijn werk vroeger. De typische sfeer van Delft vergeet je nooit. Gezelligheid en een soort van dorps gevoel. Heerlijke plek om te zijn.

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  12. It is very important to know the details of the place you are travelling so that you do not need to waste time on thinking and searching for places to visit in the last minute. I am making the list of things to do in Netherlands, because we have already got our Netherlands visa and we planning our travel to Netherlands in summer this year.

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  13. Helpful post! I recently heard that many EU countries including the Netherlands are easing travel restrictions to encourage tourism. That is why I started searching for a reliable agency that can help me get my Netherlands Visa from UK as soon as possible. On the other hand, I was scouring the web for interesting Netherlands travel guides when I stumbled upon your post. Delft looks like an amazing place and the images that you shared make me want to visit and explore it as soon as possible.

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  14. Delft is such a charming place to explore in the Netherlands. If you're considering a trip from the UK, don't forget to check the online Netherlands visa UKapplication process.

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