Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Day Trip from Amsterdam

Summary

From riverside Rotterdam to Delft blue workshops and the old heart of The Hague all in one day

You’ll start your day in Amsterdam and travel with a small group to see Rotterdam’s modern skyline, walk Delft’s cobbled streets (with time for lunch and pottery), and stand before The Hague’s Peace Palace. With a local guide handling all logistics and entry to Royal Delft included, you’ll feel both looked after and free to wander — there are moments you’ll want to remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect Rotterdam to feel so different from Amsterdam — it’s almost like a cousin who went abroad and came back with wild stories. Our guide, Pieter, joked that “Rotterdam was bombed flat and rebuilt with attitude,” which made sense once we stood under those crazy Cube Houses. I could still smell coffee drifting out of the Markthal as we wandered through, dodging bikes and listening to snippets of Turkish, Dutch, Mandarin — everyone seemed to be talking at once. There was this moment by the Old Harbour where the wind picked up off the Maas river and I realized I’d forgotten my scarf again. Typical.

Delft was softer somehow. We had lunch on a little square ringed with crooked houses — I tried a local beer that tasted almost floral (no idea what it was called). Walking into the Royal Delft Museum felt like stepping into someone else’s careful ritual: brushes tapping porcelain, blue paint staining fingertips. The self-guided audio tour was actually pretty good — not too long-winded — but honestly, I just liked watching one of the painters at work. She smiled when I tried to say “mooi” (beautiful), probably mangled it but she got the idea.

The Hague felt more formal; even the clouds seemed tidier there. We only saw the Peace Palace from outside (you can’t go in), but standing by those iron gates you get why people talk about it like it’s sacred ground. Pieter pointed out politicians hurrying into Binnenhof — he said sometimes you catch protests here but today it was mostly school groups and a couple taking wedding photos by the pond. By then my feet were tired but I didn’t really want to leave yet. There’s something about seeing three cities in one day that makes your brain buzz for hours after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague

• Drive from Amsterdam to Rotterdam
• Visit Markthal market hall
• See Blaaktoren (Pencil building)
• Explore Cube Houses (Kijk-Kubus)
• Walk around Old Harbour
• View Nieuwe Maas river and bridges
• Drive to Royal Delft Museum
• Visit Royal Delft Museum with audio tour
• Drive to Delft city center
• Walk around Nieuwe Kerk and Market Square
• See Stadhuis Delft and De Oude Kerk
• Free time for shopping and exploring Delft
• Drive to The Hague
• Visit Peace Palace exterior
• See Binnenhof and Ridderzaal exteriors

Top questions

How long is the day trip from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague?

The full-day tour lasts around 10 hours including travel between cities.

Is entry to Royal Delft Museum included?

Yes, entrance ticket for Royal Delft is included with a self-guided audio tour.

Are meals or drinks included on this tour?

No meals are included but there is free time for lunch in Delft; bottled water is provided.

How many people are in each group?

The small group size ranges from 5 to 8 people depending on season.

Is hotel pickup available?

No hotel pickup; tours depart from a central location in Amsterdam.

Can I spend extra time at any stop?

If you want more time at each stop, private tours can be arranged upon request.

Are infants or children allowed on this tour?

Yes, specialized infant seats are available and all ages are welcome.

Will we go inside the Peace Palace or Binnenhof?

No, visits are from outside only; interiors are not included in this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes bottled water throughout the journey, comfortable air-conditioned transport between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, and The Hague, entry tickets for Royal Delft Museum with an audio tour, plus plenty of time for self-exploring each city before returning together in the evening.