Welcome in Delft!
Whilst you may know Delft for its famous pottery factories, the history of the royal House of Orange–Nasseau and the life of artist Johannes Vermeer, you should also take the time to discover its well-preserved historic city centre. And everything is in easy reach: picturesque centres of interest, museums and lovely terraces and restaurants.
To find out about the famous Delft Blue pottery, come and visit the Royal Delft factories (established in 1653), De Delftse Pauw and De Candelaer Delft Pottery. These are still using traditional manufacturing techniques to produce hand-painted Delft Blue pottery. As part of a guided tour, you can come and find out about a craft industry technique whose origins go back to the 17th century.
The artist Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) is another of Delft’s draws, as he lived here with his family in various houses in the city centre. His paintings depict life in Delft during the Golden Age, and the Vermeer Centrum Delft is definitely worth a visit. Its multimedia tours will tell you all about the artist and his city. You could also follow a set route and discover all the locations in the city which are directly associated with the artist’s work.
The city is also linked to the Dutch monarchy. You will be able to find out about the history of the lineage of William of Orange since 1572, which is when the Prince started staying regularly with his family and court in the Convent of Saint Agatha. The “Het Prinsenhof” museum is showing a permanent exhibition about William of Orange and Delft during the Golden Age. This shows various aspects of the part played by William of Orange during the Revolt of the Netherlands against the Spanish occupation.