Delft recommendations

Thanks for the suggestions. I should have clarified...by "different" I meant smaller than Amsterdam but I still want canals. Also, we're planning for late spring/early summer 2015. As I mentioned, we've only just started working on the itinerary and have already taken London off and allocated 3 nights to Delft. We thought we'd go directly to the Mauritshuis Gallery on the day we arrive, have a day to explore Delft, and then day trip to Kinderdijk by boat from Rotterdam. I have a thing for Dutch windmills and didn't get my fill when we visited Zaanse Schans as a day trip from Amsterdam.

I absolutely adore Delft. While Haarlem is a smaller version of Amsterdam, many say, Delft is incomparable. Another option is Leyden, which has a university, so has young life, as well as an in-tact wonderful historic center. Two delightful places, and I like the idea of staying not in Amsterdam, in a smaller, quieter town.

Thanks to both of you for the input. Laurel, did you stay overnight in Delft on a canal?

Wonderful, I got a bit of the flavor of Ultrecht watching Househunters International on HGTV a few nights ago. Do you favor it over Delft and if so why? How does it compare with respect to crowds/tourists?

Thanks, all.

Personally, I loved Utrecht and found Delft to be meh at best (a real disappointment). Utrecht has lovely and unusual bi-level canals, and as a bonus it's the hub of the Dutch rail system. In Utrecht, there's the rail museum and the Centraal Museum, with its very varied collection (ancient ships to modern art, often juxtaposed in a way that's constantly refreshing). And Utrecht has the wonderful "Museum From Music Boxes to Pipe Organs" (a very rough translation of the Dutch name). This has all kinds of mechanical music makers, including huge pipe organs designed to provide music for an entire fair. You see them on a one-hour guided tour, during which your guide demonstrates them - unique and fascinating.

I also enjoyed Leiden; although Delft and Utrecht are also supposed to be university towns, Leiden has the oldest university in the country, and of the three it's the only one that had a visible student presence and feel. Leiden has an interesting science museum (did you know that EKG's and renal dialysis are from the Netherlands?)

If you're really looking for something different from Amsterdam, try Rotterdam. It was heavily bombed in 1940 and now has all kinds of fascinating architecture, and in no way is "quaint" or "ye olde Holland." Don't miss the Cube Houses (you can pay a few euros to go inside - wonderful) or the Erasmus Bridge.

I haven't been to Utrecht . . . yet. I stayed in The Hague 2 years ago and took a day trip to Delft. It was very nice, but one day was enough. I really enjoyed staying in The Hague - much more to see and do and better train connections.

Just wanted to add that I loved Delft--much livelier than Haarlem--and I stayed at Hotel Leeuwenbrug. The hotel was well-run and conveniently located--and the breakfast was one of the best I've had in the Netherlands.

I did not stay in Delft, but would, as well as Leyden.

As always, thanks to everyone for the great advice. I still think Delft deserves to be on the itinerary for its proximity to the Hague and a relaxing day of exploration by foot. I may allocate a third night there for a day trip to Kinderdijk. I've also become convinced that Utrecht should be on the itinerary as well with at least one full day to explore the city and another for a day trip to Kröller-Müller Museum for the Van Goghs.

I really like the Hotel Emauspoort. It's across the street from a canal. Heck, there are canals all over the place so not sure why you need/want to stay right on a canal. But anyway, nice place, nice people.

I've stayed three times now in the Netherlands: Utrecht, Haarlem and Leiden.

When I was younger, I spent one month in Utrecht, loved it! Very old medieval centre, canals and church, with Kasteel de Haar close by in Haarzuilens which is well worth a visit if you have time. I made sure to go back and visit Utrecht and the Kasteel on my next two visits and it did not disappoint!

Haarlem was a typical Dutch suburban town, a good base to visit central Holland/Amsterdam. However I did not feel the need to go back there on my next visit.

My children and I stayed in Leiden for 9 nights in 2011, loved it! Lots of canals and a very quaint city centre. You are very close to the south/coast regions and towns: the Hague, Kinderdijk, and Delft. Also by the Hague is the seaside resort of Scheveningen with its pier and restaurant lined beachwalk. Although I have really fond memories of Delft from my two earlier visits, I found that a one day visit was more than enough this time. We did take a canal ride, which was very nice and informative, things you wouldn’t otherwise know or notice.

Have a lovely trip!