The Best Hotels in Delft for Every Traveller

For a romantic escape, head to boutique hotel Casa Julia in the heart of Delft. Bright and fresh interiors inspire peace of mind, whilst the calming coastal colours evoke a gentle sea breeze. Ease into the day with breakfast in bed, then take advantage of the bike rental service to cycle along the canals, stopping at cafes like Kek for Insta-worthy smoothie bowls and a salted caramel latte. Raid the mini bar before bed for hand-picked goodies and a nightcap.

Bikes line the little bridge outside this 16th-century canal house on a quiet corner of the city. The train station is a five-minute walk away and there’s a yoga studio nearby. All rooms look straight down into the canal, while the Junior Suite boasts a luxurious bath and a modern kitchenette to cook up a storm. Don’t miss complimentary coffee and sweet treats in the lounge every evening.

How about some luxury during your stay in Delft? Warm up and wind down in your own private sauna when you book the Senior Suite, also featuring a deep-soaking bath and walk-in rainfall shower, at this canal-side hotel on Koornmarkt. Peer through the tall sash windows from beneath down duvets for views of the leafy canal, before breakfasting in the courtyard outside. The antique collections of Dutch painter Paul Tétar van Elven are next door, whilst the main market square is just across the canal.

Live piano music provides the backdrop for weekend breakfasts at this music-themed Hampshire Hotel. Meanwhile, Swing restaurant cranks things up every Tuesday and Thursday night with live music events, alongside a fusion of Dutch-French cuisine and jenever – a gin made in the Netherlands. All rooms offer contemporary comfort and some have their own supremely squashy sofas, mini fridges and private balconies overlooking the city centre.

Why be a tourist in Delft when you can live like a local? The city is thrumming with a busy student body, and with the University of Technology right next door to these brand-new apartment blocks, it’s a great place to meet and mingle. Communal areas include a cosy study room, a modern gym, sauna and handy laundrette. Scandi-style studios and apartments feature fully-equipped kitchens with a clean and minimalist style and plenty of natural light thanks to the oversized windows.

Discover the taste of China with a Dutch twist at the Shanghai Hotel Holland, a futuristic glass-fronted building off the A13. Pork schnitzel and bitterballen rub shoulders with spring rolls and chicken satay under low-hanging lanterns at The Bund lounge bar, while at Shanghai Garden it’s all about the best flavours from Cantonese, Shanghai and Sichuan cuisine. Rooms are just as tasteful, with contemporary-chic interiors, super king-size beds and luxury Rituals spa products.

Bar snacks of bitterballen and Old Amsterdam cheese sticks are served on a canal boat outside Hotel Johannes Vermeer, the perfect spot for some afternoon people-watching. Step inside the brasserie and your gaze is met by a commanding mural rendition of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. Upstairs, each guestroom is equally elegant, but the Directie Suite on the ground floor is especially charming, with its old Dutch style and warm wood panelling.

On the sun-dappled square of De Beestenmarkt, another hotel pays homage to 17th-century painter Johannes Vermeer – its claim to fame being the birthplace of the Dutch master’s father. Vermeer’s artwork adds heritage to each smart and spacious room, and the culinary scene of Delft is right under your nose. Head next door to Spijshuis De Dis for traditional gourmet cuisine and desserts served in Dutch clogs, or across the square to Kobus Kuch, which boasts a changing menu of Dutch and Belgian beers, stacks of nachos and a locally famous apple pie.

Once a 1920s sweet shop, Hotel de Emauspoort has been welcoming guests in the centre of Delft since 1995. Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer would have found himself quite at home in the Vermeer Room, where his paintings adorn the walls and windows look out to the New Church, an artist’s muse in itself. For a unique stay, hunker down in one of the gypsy caravans in the courtyard, complete with showers, toilets and TVs.