Delft is a canal-ringed city, located in the municipality in the province of South Holland, western Netherlands. The beautiful city is known as the manufacturing base of Delftware; the hand-painted blue and white pottery.

Delft is a beautiful city to walk around. There are lots of pretty canals to walk next to, cafes to sit and relax in and shops full of souvenirs. Sadly, we only had time to visit for half a day. However, we still managed to see a fair bit of Delft. Here are my highlights:

The Blue Heart

The meaning of the Blue Heart: the heart represents the heart of the city, the colour comes from the Delft blue tiles and at night, the blue heart lights up, representing the illuminated signs above the shops and the stained glass windows on the church.

Oostpoort (Eastern Gate)

Oostpoort is the Eastern Gate to the City of Delft. Back in the 1400s, the gate used to connect to the eastern wall and the eastern bridge, protecting the city from invaders. Early 19th century, most of the gate towers were torn from Delft. The Oostpoort was the only Gated Tower that survived through the test of time. From 1988, it became open to the public as a tourist spot. Today, it is one of the most touristy spots in the City of Delft.

Molen de Roos

Molen de Roos, translated into English, Windmill the Rose, was built in 1679 and was used for the grinding of corn. It is the last reminding windmill in the Delft area. The windmill is free to go inside. There is a museum, educating you all about the history of ‘The Rose’. Not only do you get to learn about windmill on your visit, but you also get great views across the City of Delft.

Please note: to go up the windmill, you will be required to climb steep, wooden ladders.

Take a Walk

The great thing about the City of Delft, wherever you walk, it is beautiful. On your visit, take some time to walk down the back streets, to see the beautiful canals, street artwork, and colourful painted bikes.