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Delfland
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Explore Delfland for Delft's historic canals, Dutch painting and ceramics, polder villages, cycling routes and working greenhouse landscapes.

Delfland is a water-shaped landscape in the Dutch province of South Holland, centred on Delft and extending through the low-lying polders and horticultural districts between The Hague, Rotterdam and the North Sea coast. The name refers both to a historic region and to the long-established water-management authority whose territory reflects the area's close relationship with canals, dykes, drainage ditches and reclaimed land. For visitors, Delfland offers a compact but varied combination of urban heritage, open countryside and highly productive modern horticulture.
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Delft is the region's principal historic centre. Its canals, brick gables, quiet courtyards and churches preserve the atmosphere of a former trading and university town, while the Royal Delft tradition links the city to the blue-and-white earthenware that became internationally recognised during the Dutch Golden Age. The Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk and former Prinsenhof monastery give the centre a particularly strong connection with the House of Orange and the political history of the Netherlands. Delft is also a lively contemporary city, shaped by its technical university, design culture and large student population.
Beyond the city, Midden-Delfland presents a markedly different setting. Narrow lanes cross meadows divided by waterways, and villages such as Schipluiden, Maasland, Den Hoorn and the small settlement of 't Woudt retain a rural character despite their proximity to the Randstad. Walking and cycling reveal the practical logic of the landscape: raised settlements, drainage channels, pumping stations and embankments are not decorative features but part of a continuing effort to live below sea level. The area is especially attractive for slow travel, with routes linking farms, village churches and waterside paths.
To the west, the wider Delfland landscape includes the Westland horticultural area, where glasshouses occupy much of the land and flowers, vegetables and plants are cultivated for domestic and international markets. This is an important contemporary contrast to the pastureland of Midden-Delfland. In the eastern and southern parts, transport links and urban development become more prominent, but traces of the historic polder structure remain. Delfland is therefore best understood not as a single town or conventional tourist district, but as a working cultural landscape in which Dutch water management, urban history, agriculture and innovation remain closely connected.

When is the best time to visit Delfland?

Best: June–August · 19–21°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January670
February760
March1160
April1350
May1660
June (best)1970
July (best)2180
August (best)2180
September1870
October1470
November970
December780

Getting to and around Delfland

How to get there

Delft is the principal rail gateway within Delfland, with direct or convenient train connections to Rotterdam, The Hague and other Dutch cities. International visitors can usually reach the area via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, outside the region, or Rotterdam The Hague Airport, located in Rotterdam outside Delfland and served by local public transport connections. From either airport, continue by train, bus or taxi according to the final destination. Rotterdam and The Hague are useful neighbouring gateways for visitors staying in the outer parts of the region, while Delft is the most practical arrival point for the historic core and Midden-Delfland.

Transportation

Delft is easy to explore on foot, and Dutch trains and buses connect the main urban settlements. Cycling is particularly effective in Midden-Delfland, where signed routes and quiet roads lead through meadows, villages and waterways, although conditions can be exposed and some paths are narrow. A car is useful for reaching dispersed rural addresses or moving around the Westland greenhouse area, but drivers should allow for cyclists, agricultural vehicles and busy commercial traffic. Public transport is less frequent in the countryside than in Delft, so check the current journey planner before setting out and avoid assuming that every village has a direct connection.

Top city travel guides in Delfland

The cities of Delfland, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in Delfland

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Delfland

Delfland's attractions range from the canal-lined historic centre of Delft to the open waterways and pasture of Midden-Delfland. In Delft, the Prinsenhof complex explains the city's role in the Dutch Revolt, while the Nieuwe Kerk, Oude Kerk and collections connected with Delftware and local art provide different perspectives on religion, politics, craft and culture. The city's university and design environment add a contemporary layer to its historic streets. Outside Delft, walking and cycling are the main experiences: routes pass through Schipluiden, Maasland, Den Hoorn and the small settlement of 't Woudt, linking churchyards, farms, bridges and drainage channels. The Westland offers a contrasting view of intensive horticulture, with vast glasshouses and logistics networks shaping the landscape. Visitors interested in engineering and geography can observe the practical systems of dykes, pumping stations and controlled waterways that keep the polders habitable. Delfland is less about a single large attraction than about the relationship between an historic city and a working, engineered countryside.

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Best landmarks in Delfland

Delft's historic skyline is defined by the Nieuwe Kerk on the Markt and the slightly leaning Oude Kerk beside the Oude Delft canal. The Nieuwe Kerk is the burial church of the Dutch royal family and is closely associated with the House of Orange, while the Oude Kerk reflects the city's medieval religious and urban development. The Prinsenhof, a former monastery, is a landmark of national political history because William of Orange was assassinated there in 1584. Delft's surviving canals, bridges, brick façades and former town gates, including the Oostpoort, provide a coherent historic townscape rather than isolated monuments. Beyond the city, the defining landmarks are more infrastructural: dykes, sluices, pumping stations and straight drainage channels express the long history of water management. In Midden-Delfland, the church and compact settlement of 't Woudt stand out within the surrounding meadows, while the broad glasshouse districts of the Westland form a distinctly modern regional landscape. Together these places show Delfland as both a historic city region and an engineered lowland environment.

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Best restaurants in Delfland

Delfland's dining scene is anchored by Delft, where cafés, bakeries, international restaurants and contemporary Dutch kitchens occupy streets around the canals and market squares. Traditional Dutch foods such as herring, cheese, pancakes, fried snacks and filled pastries are readily available, while the wider South Holland region contributes seafood, dairy and seasonal produce. The Westland's horticultural economy means that vegetables, fruit, herbs and plants are central to the local food landscape, although produce is often distributed through national and international supply chains rather than sold directly at every farm. In Midden-Delfland, rural cafés, farm shops and waterside establishments provide informal stops for cyclists and walkers, with menus varying by season. Delftware is a craft rather than a food, but specialist shops sometimes pair local cultural interpretation with tastings or regional products. Visitors should expect a mixture of Dutch staples, modern European cooking and international food reflecting the region's urban population rather than a single narrowly defined cuisine.

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Best bars in Delfland

Delft is the main evening centre in Delfland, with a concentration of cafés, traditional brown bars, beer-focused venues, restaurants and student-oriented establishments around the historic centre and university area. Live music and cultural programming are more significant here than a large-scale nightclub scene, although particular venues and events change over time. The city is suitable for an evening of canal-side dining followed by drinks, but quieter streets can become calm once the busiest venues close. In Schipluiden, Maasland and other rural parts of Delfland, nightlife is centred on village pubs, cafés, restaurants and occasional community or music events rather than dedicated clubs. The greenhouse and polder districts have limited late-night public transport, so visitors staying outside Delft should check their return journey in advance. Alcohol is only one part of the evening culture: museums, theatres, seasonal cultural programmes and late meals also shape nights in the region.

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Best nightclubs in Delfland

Delft is the main evening centre in Delfland, with a concentration of cafés, traditional brown bars, beer-focused venues, restaurants and student-oriented establishments around the historic centre and university area. Live music and cultural programming are more significant here than a large-scale nightclub scene, although particular venues and events change over time. The city is suitable for an evening of canal-side dining followed by drinks, but quieter streets can become calm once the busiest venues close. In Schipluiden, Maasland and other rural parts of Delfland, nightlife is centred on village pubs, cafés, restaurants and occasional community or music events rather than dedicated clubs. The greenhouse and polder districts have limited late-night public transport, so visitors staying outside Delft should check their return journey in advance. Alcohol is only one part of the evening culture: museums, theatres, seasonal cultural programmes and late meals also shape nights in the region.

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Best shops in Delfland

Delft is the strongest shopping centre in Delfland, combining everyday Dutch high-street retail with independent boutiques, bookshops, galleries, antique dealers and specialist stores in and around the historic centre. Delftware is the most recognisable regional purchase, but visitors should distinguish authentic workshop or established maker products from mass-produced souvenirs and ask about provenance when it matters. The city's markets and food shops offer cheese, baked goods, flowers and other Dutch staples, while farm shops and growers in the surrounding horticultural area may sell seasonal produce when local access is available. In smaller Delfland villages, shopping is practical and limited, with a few local services rather than extensive retail streets. The Westland's identity is more strongly connected with horticulture than with visitor shopping, although plants and fresh produce can be found through appropriate specialist outlets. For crafts, ceramics, design and locally themed gifts, Delft provides the widest choice; for everyday provisions, supermarkets and neighbourhood shops are more dependable than rural routes.

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Delfland essentials

Currency and Payment
Delfland uses the euro, with the currency code EUR, as part of the Netherlands. Debit and credit cards, contactless payments and mobile wallets are widely accepted in Delft, including at many cafés, museums and shops, although individual businesses may specify which cards they take. Cash is less central than it once was but remains useful for small purchases, rural stops or unforeseen situations. Payment practices can vary between market stalls and small village businesses, so carrying a modest amount of euros is sensible even when most of the itinerary is urban.
Safety
Delfland is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary precautions remain appropriate in busy stations, cycle parking areas and crowded parts of Delft. Cycling requires attention: keep to marked cycle facilities, watch for fast local riders and never walk unpredictably into a cycle lane. In the countryside, paths may be slippery, narrow or poorly lit after dark, while canals and ditches can be deep and unfenced. Follow local signs around water-management works, respect agricultural access points and take care near roads used by greenhouse and farm vehicles.
Emergency Situations
For urgent police, fire or ambulance assistance in Delfland and elsewhere in the Netherlands, call 112. Give the location as clearly as possible, using a street address, named cycle route, bridge, village or recognisable landmark; this is especially important on rural paths. Non-urgent police matters use the Dutch national non-emergency number 0900 8844. Do not enter canals or drainage ditches to retrieve belongings, and call 112 immediately for a serious water-related emergency. Pharmacies and medical services operate through national Dutch arrangements, so visitors should carry travel insurance details and relevant medication information.
Do's and Don'ts
Do give priority to cyclists and keep to the correct side of shared paths, and do close gates when a marked walking route passes through farmland. Do remain on public paths, avoid climbing dykes or water-management structures without permission and ask before photographing private homes or working farms. In churches and historic buildings, follow signs about photography and quiet areas. Tipping is not compulsory in the Dutch way, but rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is appreciated. Do not mistake a narrow canal, drainage ditch or private farm track for a safe swimming area or public route.
Local Tips
Plan Delft's principal historic sites for the morning or late afternoon and use the middle of the day for a cycle or walk through Midden-Delfland. The villages around Schipluiden and Maasland provide useful pauses for understanding how settlement and water management fit together, while 't Woudt offers a particularly small-scale historic setting. In the Westland, the landscape is best appreciated as an active horticultural production zone rather than a conventional rural retreat. Weather changes quickly on open polder routes, so combine a map or digital route planner with a flexible plan for cafés, museums or village stops.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHallo[hah-loh]
GoodbyeTot ziens[toht zeens]
YesJa[yah]
NoNee[nay]
Please/You're welcomeAlsjeblieft[ahl-syeh-bleeft]
Thank youDank je[dank yuh]
Excuse me/SorrySorry[soh-ree]
How are you?Hoe gaat het?[hoo ghaht het]
Fine. And you?Goed. En jij?[hoot. en yay]
Do you speak English?Spreek je Engels?[sprayk yuh en-guhls]
I don't understandIk begrijp het niet[ik buh-graif het neet]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIk wil graag de menukaart zien, alsjeblieft[ik vil grahkh duh meh-nu-kahrt zeen, ahl-syeh-bleeft]
I don't eat meatIk eet geen vlees[ik ayt khayn vlays]
Cheers!Proost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIk wil graag betalen, alsjeblieft[ik vil grahkh beh-tah-len, ahl-syeh-bleeft]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help]
Go away!Ga weg![gah vek]
Call the Police!Bel de politie![bel duh poh-leet-sie]
Call a doctor!Bel een dokter![bel eyn dok-ter]
I'm lostIk ben verdwaald[ik ben fer-dwahlt]
I'm illIk ben ziek[ik ben zeek]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ik wil ... kopen[ik vil ... koh-pen]
I'm just lookingIk kijk gewoon[ik kyke khuh-vohn]
How much is it?Hoeveel kost het?[hoo-vayl kost het]
That's too expensiveDat is te duur[daht is tuh duur]
Can you lower the price?Kun je de prijs verlagen?[kun yuh duh prays fer-lah-ghen]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Hoe laat is het?[hoo laat is het]
It's one o'clockHet is een uur[het is eyn ur]
Half past (10)Half (tien)[half (teen)]
MorningOchtend[okh-tend]
AfternoonMiddag[mid-dahkh]
EveningAvond[ah-vond]
YesterdayGisteren[gis-te-ren]
TodayVandaag[vahn-dahkh]
TomorrowMorgen[mor-ghen]
11[eyn]
22[twee]
33[drie]
44[vier]
55[vijf]
66[zes]
77[zeven]
88[acht]
99[negen]
1010[tien]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Waar is een/de...?[vahr is eyn/de...?]
What's the address?Wat is het adres?[vaht is het ah-dres]
Can you show me (on the map)?Kun je me (op de kaart) laten zien?[kun yuh muh (op duh kaart) lah-ten zeen]
When's the next (bus)?Wanneer komt de volgende (bus)?[van-neer komt duh vol-ghen-de (bus)]
A ticket (to ....)Een ticket (naar ...)[eyn ti-ket (naahr ...)]

History of Delfland

Medieval Peat Reclamation and the Rise of Delfland

Much of Delfland developed from wet peat and clay landscapes that required systematic drainage before permanent settlement could expand. From the medieval period, local communities dug ditches, constructed embankments and organised water levels through collective institutions. The resulting polders supported pasture, farming and villages, while the interlaced waterways also provided transport. Water management became a permanent civic responsibility rather than a single historical project, and the regional water authority associated with Delfland remains part of that institutional legacy.

Delft's Medieval Foundation and Trading Position

Delft grew around a canal associated with the river Delft and developed into an important settlement in the county of Holland during the Middle Ages. Its position between inland communities and larger waterways helped it prosper through trade, brewing, craft production and administration. The construction and enlargement of churches, civic buildings and defensive works shaped the historic centre whose canals and street plan remain visible today. Delft's medieval development also established the urban focus around which the surrounding Delfland countryside has long been organised.

The Dutch Revolt and William of Orange

Delft played a significant role during the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. William of Orange made the city his base during the later stages of the conflict, and he was assassinated at the Prinsenhof in 1584. He was buried in the Nieuwe Kerk because Breda, the traditional burial place of the Nassau family, was under Spanish control. Delft subsequently became the principal burial city of the House of Orange, giving its churches and former monastery an enduring place in Dutch political and national history.

Delft in the Dutch Golden Age

During the seventeenth century, Delft benefited from trade, brewing, printing, art and military activity. The city was associated with painters including Johannes Vermeer, whose views of Delft and domestic interiors contributed to its lasting artistic reputation. Delftware also developed during this period as local potters adapted techniques and visual ideas connected with Chinese porcelain, producing the blue-and-white earthenware now strongly associated with the city. This cultural flowering coincided with the growth of the Dutch Republic's commercial and maritime power.

Water Boards and the Engineered Landscape

The low-lying territory of Delfland required continuous maintenance as settlement, agriculture and urban growth expanded. Water boards coordinated drainage, dykes, canals, sluices and pumping, balancing the needs of farms, towns and later industry. Windmills were important in earlier phases, while steam and electrically powered pumping gradually transformed water control. The landscape around Midden-Delfland still makes this history legible: straight drainage channels, raised roads, pumping installations and carefully managed water levels reveal how Dutch communities have adapted to living below or close to sea level.

Horticulture and the Westland Glasshouse Economy

From the nineteenth century onwards, intensive horticulture became increasingly important in the western part of the Delfland area, particularly in the Westland. Market gardening supplied nearby cities, while the development of glasshouses enabled growers to control temperature, light and growing conditions. Improvements in transport and logistics turned the district into one of the Netherlands' major horticultural production areas. Modern glasshouse cultivation has changed the appearance and economy of the landscape, but it continues an older regional pattern of making productive use of carefully drained land.

Delft's Technical and Industrial Transformation

Delft's modern identity was strongly influenced by the development of technical education and research. The institution now known as Delft University of Technology grew from nineteenth-century initiatives intended to train engineers for the industrialising Netherlands. Engineering, design, science and water expertise subsequently became central to the city's economy and public culture. The university's presence helped create a marked contrast between Delft's historic centre and its modern research environment, while reinforcing the wider region's association with infrastructure, engineering and applied knowledge.

Delfland in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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Neighbouring regions of Delfland

The closest regions to Delfland, if you have time for more than one.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Delfland, Netherlands

Discover Delfland with Evendo, your 100% free app-based travel guide. Explore attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, restaurants, and more. Plan and book your entire trip effortlessly.

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  • ‘Near Me’ feature to explore nearby attractions and points of interest.
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  • Comprehensive travel essentials and historical information about Delfland.
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Welcome to Delfland, a picturesque region in the Netherlands known for its stunning landscapes, charming towns, and rich cultural heritage. With Evendo, your journey through Delfland becomes an unforgettable adventure. This 100% free app-based travel guide provides detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities.

Imagine strolling through the historic streets of Delft, marveling at the iconic Nieuwe Kerk, or exploring the serene beauty of Midden-Delfland’s nature reserves. Evendo offers curated local tips and rich descriptions, complete with images and maps, to help you make the most of each destination. Discover top dining spots like Restaurant de Prinsenkelder or enjoy a night out at Bar Sil, all with insider advice to experience Delfland like a local.

Planning your trip has never been easier. With Evendo, you can effortlessly book hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences directly through the app. No more hassle of searching multiple websites; everything you need is in one place. The app also features a ‘Near Me’ option, allowing you to see what's around you at any given moment, ensuring you never miss out on hidden gems.

Whether you're interested in the rich history of Delfland, need travel essentials, or want to make the most out of your visit with local advice, Evendo has got you covered. And the best part? It's completely free to use, with no in-app purchases or hidden costs. Plus, Evendo covers over 7,000 destinations worldwide, making it a must-have for any traveler.

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