Rotterdam & Delft Walking Tour: Cube Houses & Royal Delft

Two cities, one day: where modern Rotterdam meets medieval Delft

A walking tour of Rotterdam and Delft covering seven and a half hours with a live English-speaking guide. You walk through Rotterdam's cube houses, the Old Harbor, and the Erasmus Bridge, then travel by train to Delft to see Royal Delft pottery, the Vermeer Centre, and Museum Prinsenhof where Willem of Orange was assassinated. The tour includes a drink and entry to the cube houses; train fare runs about 10 euros and is payable by card at the station.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Rotterdam and Delft highlights

• Visit Rotterdam Central Station
• See former Waterschap Schieland building
• Explore Church of St. Lawrence
• View Erasmus of Rotterdam monument
• Walk through Markthal market
• Visit Cube Houses
• Relax at Rotterdam Old Harbor
• See historic skyscraper
• Cross Willem III Red Bridge
• View “The Lift” train bridge
• Visit World War II memorial
• Explore open air maritime museum
• Walk across Erasmus Bridge
• See Delft sustainable train station
• Visit Delft Pottery of Delftse Pauw
• View De Bijenkorf monument
• See historic water management building
• Visit Archive of City of Delft
• Explore Museum Prinsenhof Delft
• Visit Beguines memorial area
• See Delft’s leaning church tower
• View former City Hall in Delft
• Visit Vermeer Centre
• See philosopher’s monument
• Visit royal family funeral church
• See 19th century Catholic church
• Explore Royal Delft pottery workshop

The Experience

The day starts at Rotterdam Central Station, a modern architectural landmark that handles 170,000 passengers daily. From there you walk through the city's contrasts: the Church of St. Lawrence, a Late Gothic building from 1525 that survived the Nazi bombing of May 1940, stands near the Markthal, a horseshoe-shaped market and residential complex nicknamed "The Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam." The cube houses come next—tree-like structures with cube-shaped apartments balanced on columns, where only three-quarters of the interior space is actually usable for living. You'll see the Erasmus Bridge, the city's most recognizable symbol at 139 meters high, with Europe's largest opening span at 80 meters long.

After Rotterdam's waterfront—the Old Harbor, the maritime museum, and memorials to the merchant ships lost in World War II—you take the train to Delft. The second half of the day centers on the people and crafts that made Delft famous. Royal Delft, the worldwide-known majolica pottery workshop, shows the tin-glazed technique still in use after centuries, mostly in thousands of shades of blue. You'll visit the Vermeer Centre to learn about the painter's work and life, and Museum Prinsenhof, the residence where Willem of Orange, leader of the Dutch revolution and father of the nation, was assassinated. The tour also covers the leaning tower of the Old Church from 1246, the New Church where the Dutch royal family is buried, and monuments to Desiderius Erasmus and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the scientist who invented the microscope.

The walking pace is steady but manageable for all fitness levels. A drink is included during or after the tour. You'll need to buy a return train ticket from Rotterdam to Delft and back—about 10 euros, payable by card at the station—which is not included in the tour price. Public transportation runs throughout the day, so you can step off if you need a break.

What’s included

• A live guide in English (or Czech, Croatian, or Serbian depending on your departure).
• a drink during or after the tour.
• entrance to the cube houses.
• public transportation options nearby throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Alex

Is this one for you?The tour runs seven and a half hours on foot with multiple stops, so it suits travelers comfortable with steady walking and a full day out. If you prefer a shorter outing or need frequent breaks, a half-day tour of one city alone would be a better fit.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

3 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What are the cube houses in Rotterdam and why do they look so unusual?

The cube houses are apartments built on top of supporting columns, designed to look like trees. Because of their cube shape, only about three-quarters of the interior space is usable for living, which is why they stand out so distinctly in the Rotterdam skyline.

Will I visit any museums or pottery workshops on this tour?

Yes. In Delft you'll see Royal Delft, a working pottery workshop famous for its blue majolica technique, and the Vermeer Centre, which covers the painter's life and work. Museum Prinsenhof, the former residence of Willem of Orange, is also on the itinerary depending on your option choice.

How do I get from Rotterdam to Delft during the tour?

You travel by train between the two cities. The return ticket costs about 10 euros and you pay it yourself at the station by card; it's not included in the tour price. Travel time is built into the seven and a half hour total.

What historical figures does the tour cover?

The tour highlights Desiderius Erasmus, a 16th-century philosopher and theologian; Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who invented the microscope; Johannes Vermeer, the painter; and Willem of Orange, leader of the Dutch revolution and the nation's founding father, whose assassination at Museum Prinsenhof is a key stop.

Is there a drink included, and when do I get it?

Yes, a drink is included in the tour price. You'll have it during or after the tour, depending on the guide's timing and your group's pace through the stops.

What's the lowest point in the Netherlands, and will I visit it?

The lowest point is 7.67 meters below sea level in Rotterdam. The tour mentions this location as a place to drink coffee, though the specific stop depends on the guide's route through the city.