Leiden & Delft half-day private tour: two cities, one guide

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (6 reviews)

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/13

Duration4h 30m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · DE +4

PickupAt your hotel

Two centuries of Dutch history in one afternoon, on foot and by your pace.

A private half-day tour of Leiden and Delft with a live guide in your chosen language, covering the city where Rembrandt was born and the siege of 1574, then Delft's Golden Age landmarks and the spot where Vermeer painted his most famous work. The guide walks you through both cities at the pace you set; you choose which city to start in, and the 20-minute transfer between them is included. A moderate level of fitness helps; infants and small children can ride in a pram.

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

The Experience

You meet your guide at Beestenmarkt square in Leiden, a five-minute walk from the central station. From there, the tour unfolds through the city's oldest quarters: past the Morspoort gate, the 17th-century windmill Molen de Put (the same type Rembrandt's parents owned), and the Pieterskerk, a church that has stood since the 12th century. You'll see the Burcht van Leiden, a hilltop castle built for defense, and walk the Breestraat past the Stadsgehoorzaal concert hall and the old town hall. The guide fills in the stories — the 1574 siege, Rembrandt's life here, the Pilgrim Fathers who sheltered in Leiden before crossing to America, and the founding of the oldest university in the Netherlands.

After Leiden, you board a 20-minute train to Delft (or drive, depending on the option). In Delft, the route takes you to Markt, the central square, where the New Church holds the Orange family tombs and the 17th-century town hall stands nearby. You walk the Oude Delft canal, passing the leaning Old Church and the decorated Gemeenlandshuis facade. The Museum Prinsenhof — where William of Orange was assassinated — sits along this route, as does the former V.O.C. weapons armory. The guide shows you the exact spot where Vermeer stood to paint his masterpiece, View of Delft. The route ends at Beestenmarkt in Delft, passing former pottery makers, an old synagogue, and the oldest hospital in the Netherlands.

This is a private tour, so the pace is yours. If you want to linger at a church, ask about a particular artist, or focus on a topic — the Golden Age, the siege, the pottery trade — the guide adjusts. You can start in either city. A guide speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, or German. Hotel pickup and drop-off by car is available depending on which option you book; if not, you meet at Beestenmarkt in Leiden.

What’s included

Private guide throughout in your chosen language.
all fees and taxes.
the 20-minute transfer between Leiden and Delft by train or car.
hotel pickup and drop-off if you book that option. Lunch breaks and gratuities are optional.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Discover Delft

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to move at your own pace through two cities' worth of Dutch history without assembling the route yourself — the guide handles the sequence and the stories, and you set how long to spend at each stop. It works best if you're comfortable walking for a few hours across both cities, and it suits anyone interested in the Golden Age, Rembrandt, Vermeer, or the Pilgrim Fathers' connection to Leiden.