Delft: The Heart of Art and the Destination of the Netherlands

Delft is not just a picture postcard setting with serene canals and Golden Age facades; it is the corner of the world where the destiny of the Dutch nation was woven and where the genius of painting, Johannes Vermeer, lived. Throughout our walk, we will immerse ourselves in a journey through time. From the innovation of the Huis van Delft, we will walk along the Oude Delft, the oldest canal in the city. We will discover the secrets of medieval nobility and Gothic architecture in the Gemeenlandhuis and the Erfgoedhuis, and relive the most dramatic episodes in the history of the monarchy in the Prinsenhof, the former Monastery of St. Agatha and the scene of the tragic end of William of Orange. But Delft is also a city of faith, art and contrasts. We will see how its imposing religious and civil heritage has kept the pulse of daily life for centuries. We will admire temples such as the Sint Hypolithuskerk, the Maria van Jessekerk and the Oude Kerk (linked to Geertruij van Oosten), as well as passing by the site of the House of Johannes Vermeer. All this culminating in the Markt of Delft, unwavering witness of trade and local power thanks to the imposing Stadhuis and the majestic Nieuwe Kerk.