Excerpts from delft

july 2013 - february 2014

Situated about 60km south of Amsterdam, Delft will always have a special place in my heart. It's hard to try to explain to others why it felt so much like home to me - but I think in a lot of ways it just intrinsically felt right. Rows of cute houses sitting side by side, my bike vibrating away as I rode over the cobblestone pavings, watching smaller boats make their way through the canals, going to the market every Thursday and having fish for lunch... It almost felt like living a fairytale. If Holland is on your itinery - I would definitely recommend half a day strolling around this almost perfectly scaled city, perhaps en route to Den Haag or Rotterdam.

This cute and quiet city is home to Delft pottery, is Johannes Vermeer's hometown [you might recognise Girl with the Pearl Earring], and the Nieuwe Kerk, where you can get a great view of the city.

Quick guide

Delft by train: A trip to Delft from Amsterdam is 1 hour on the NS service. Delft is also in close proximity to Den Haag (15 minutes towards Amsterdam) and Rotterdam (15 minutes away in the other direction). Enjoy the free wifi service as you travel throughout Holland's train network.
Crowd profile: Delft is a student town. You'll see many people in their 20s and it's very much a cosmopolitan mix. 
What to do: Affectionately known as mini-Amsterdam, walk around the canals, hire a bike and cycle around, and check out the TU Delft library with its sloping green roof. At night, the population flocks towards Rotterdam for nightlife, so it gets pretty quiet here. 
Rent: I paid 380€ per month all bills inclusive in student accomodation. Expect to pay roughly the same amount if you're sharing.