Day in Delft

Stephanie,

We visited Delft in June last year also as a day trip from Leiden (where we were staying for a few days).

If you do the RS walking tour, you'll see the main sights in Delft and can decide how long you want to linger or go back to some places later.

Delft is very charming but not overburdened with "must see" items. We enjoyed strolling there and finding quieter canals for lunch outside, little shops on side streets, etc. The market in the center of town with the Nieuwe Kirk (new church) is a highlight and I'm sure is in the walking tour. I'd suggest getting away from that square for lunch or dinner to find a better deal. There's also a lovely Vermeer museum worth checking out not far away (note it is small and does not contain many, if any, original works - just copies - but has a lot of good insight on his work and life).

We did the canal tour in Delft as well as Amsterdam. Delft's tour is shorter and less dramatic perhaps, but we thought it was a nice contrast to Amsterdam with some good local information from our boat driver. If you have the time, I'd say it's worth it (but easy to drop if your schedule is tight).

We loved Leiden but would have been happy if we had based in Delft instead.

My daughter (33) and I went to Delft in February 2024 for a day trip. We went to the Royal Delft Factory and Museum and did the tour, which was excellent. You don't book ahead, just show up. First you see a couple videos about the company, the history and the process, and then it is a self guided tour through the museum. We were wowed by this and had no idea that we would enjoy it as much as we did. We did not do tea there, only because I didn't know about it;)

We did have dinner at Monastere and cannot praise it enough. Definitely go there, and make reservation!

Did you check out the canal tour in Amsterdam with Jack? Our hotel suggested this, and we had the best time! We also did a tour on one of the regular boats, but it did not compare at all, FWIW. Jack is very engaging and enthusiastic, and you learn so much from him vs the usual canal tours. The link for the one we did is here.
https://amsterdamprivateboattour.com

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/the-netherlands-belgium-april-2024-brought-the-rain-pants-needed-the-rain-pants

Perhaps my Trip Report will help, regarding Delft, which is delightful. I think your questions will be answered.
I love all boats tours in the NL, and each offers local color. Plus, the canal tours give on an alternate perspective on each town, and rest the feet.
You're comparing a big, historical factory (Royal Delft) with a tiny local shop (DeCandelaer). The latter offers signed hand-made pieces, at a much lower price than the Royal Delft Factory. Go to both.

Have a great time!

I don’t know if the RS walking off Delft includes it, but you should definitely see the 3D city map made of ceramic tiles located on a wall in the Papenstraat. It’s a fascinating piece of art. The first time I saw it I spent a good 15 minutes looking at it and still kept discovering new things.

Also please note that the Dutch word for church is “kerk”, not “kirk”. Delft has 2 famous churches, the New Church/Nieuwe Kerk and the Old Church/Oude Kerk. Both are worth a visit.

There are a number of nice cities that are easy daytrips while staying in Amsterdam. Delft is among them. Just another scheme to consider, because checking out and in to hotels can be time-consuming. I have been to Delft while staying in Amsterdam more than once.

We toured de Candelaer as part of our Rick Steves tour. This is a small mom and pop operation (and one of two surviving authentic Delft factories.) It's the owner telling you a bit of their history and showing you some of the stages of how things are made; right there in the store. It wouldn't be very long amount of time invested, (20 min) yet I think it is amazing to support these lovely people and make a purchase of some sort! So honestly, if you have the time, do both. Start at de Candelaer first. I don't know how they schedule this opportunity since we were part of an organized tour.

I wouldn't do a canal tour in Delft if you are doing one in Amsterdam.

While in Amsterdam (since you like Delftware) stop into the Hotel Die Port van Cleve bar and enjoy the very large historical tile mural inside that is breathtaking. It's been there since 1887.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!

Steve - thanks for the feedback on the canal tour. I think we will do one in Delft, as well as the one already scheduled in Amsterdam.

Mikliz97 - great feedback regarding the Royal Delft Factory tour - glad to hear you and your daughter were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it. I will plan to do that! And I've booked dinner reservations for Monastere! Can't wait!

Pat - I had previously read your detailed trip report (and loved it). It was your report that inspired me to base the 2nd half of our trip in Leiden vs. Delft. From there, we plan to make day trips to Haarlem, Kinderdijk, and Rotterdam. In your trip report, you mention doing a canal tour with Blue Line Tours - but I can't find anything under that name. Is it called Rondvaart Delft?

Dutch-traveler - I didn't know about the 3D City map - we will certainly go check it out.

KD - thanks for the feedback. We will go to both the Royal Delft Factory as well as Candelaer.

Stephanie , yes, regrading the Delft boat cruise, I have both names on the email confirmation. Thanks for your kind remarks. Enjoy!

Stephanie……just got back from there. Pat-San Diego- gave us great advice and maybe I can pass that on. We too stayed in Leiden…..Steenhof Suites……DELIGHTFUL…..location and room. We found a laundromat and grocery nearby as we walked from the train station to Steenhof and all was so convenient. The canal tour we took in Leiden was wonderful…..try that. We took a day trip from Leiden to Delft, toured the Royal Delft Factory-on King’s Day so the workers/painters were scarce- but so enjoyed that and bought a few pieces they they shipped home for us and the packages beat us home! We had afternoon tea in their sunny cozy tea room and it was a pleasure……so glad we did that and a bargain. We walked around Delft’s city square….so crowded with King’s Day crowds- but still shopped and found a sweet delft clock i brought home, lovely memory of a wonderful day. The museum, at your leisure, might be an hour…..it is amazing to see if like me you love Delft. I need to add this….hubby and I married in 1974. We were gifted with a lovely Delft flower pot from a Rotary exchange student that lived with his family in Mississippi one summer way back in the 60’s. i took a picture of the trademark on the bottom of our gift and showed it to the Royal Delft people to see if they had painted it……they had not but said that there were many hand painters, etc in the area that probably did it….fun to find that out! WE had a GREAT trip….hope you do too! let me know if I can help! Going to Brugge????