City of Delft

Delft has a reputation for being a friendly city; bars and terraces along the canals and on the city squares, quirky shops, affordable restaurants and great cinemas. It is easy to find your way around as everything is close together. Delft is bursting with activity from spring right through to autumn, including music festivals and street theatre.

History

Did you know that...

In 1400, Delft was the second-largest city in Holland?
Important 17th-century painters Johannes Vermeer, Pieter de Hooch, Carel Fabritius and Jan Steen lived in Delft?
Delft Blue has been made in Delft since the end of the 16th century and is now world-famous?
The tombs of the Princes of Orange and their family and the Dutch royal family are located beneath the Nieuwe Kerk Church in Delft?
William of Orange was murdered in Delft in 1584 by Balthasar Gerards?
Delft has a seaport despite not being located on the coast (Delfshaven in Rotterdam)?
The ‘father’ of the microscope was Delft’s Antoni van Leeuwenhoek?

Nightlife, art and culture

Do you enjoy art, culture and nightlife? Museums, theatres and individual artists have been treating the people of Delft to great exhibitions and shows for many years. You will encounter all kinds of art: from sculptures to paintings and from street theatre to video art. Need time to let all this art and culture sink in? Then simply take a seat at one of the great waterside terraces and enjoy the café culture.

Nightlife

Delft is a great city for a night out on the town. Filmhuis Lumen and Mutsee cinemas are a popular way of starting off the evening. Then, what else but onto a pub crawl through BrabantseTurfmarkt, Kromstraat, Mark and Nieuwstraat? Perhaps you will end up at the Lorre Students Disco.

Culture and events

Westerpop music festival, the International Festival of Technology, the canal concerts, the art and antiques fair, exhibitions in the DOK library… When it comes to culture, Delft has something for everyone. Also keep a close eye on the Theater de Veste programme, for performances by big names and up-and-coming talent. You should also visit Het Prinsenhof, Science Centre Delft or one of Delft’s many other museums.

Delftpas

Students can obtain a Delftpas (card)(website in Dutch). You can apply for a Delftpas on the website of the city council (www.delftpas.nl). With the Delftpas you get discount on for instance a library subscription, courses, the zoo Blijdorp in Rotterdam, theatre, free access to museums and many more. The Delftpas provides also discounts for culture in Rotterdam and The Hague.  The card is valid for one year. From the 1st of March till the 28th of February of that particular year.

Shopping

General Shopping

Delft Students can conveniently arrange shopping for furniture by visiting the local Ikea, accessible by public transport as well as bikes.

Weekly Markets

The Delft markets can be found in the city’s centre and can be a major attraction for tourists. You can expect many colourful flower stalls, merchants selling cheese, fresh stroopwaffles, and other fresh local produce and countless antiques, books and trinkets.

Below you can find a list of locations and operating times of the main markets

Thursday and Saturday Market: at the Markt, and at the Brabantse Turftmarkt
Thursday Flower Market: at the Brabantse Turfmarkt in the inner city of Delft.
Tuesday Market, Hoven Passage: near De Hoven Passage
Summer Antiques, Bric-à-brac and Book Market (from April till October): at the Markt, and at the Brabantse Turftmarkt

Post offices

Post offices are often located inside shops and supermarkets. These locations also known as ‘afhaalpunten’ or ‘collection points’, are commonly used for receiving and sending parcels.