Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Day Trip from Amsterdam with Royal Delft

Rotterdam, the modern port city

Rotterdam was heavily bombed in 1940 and rebuilt after the war with bold modern architecture, which is why it looks so different from the historic Dutch towns. Its port is one of the largest in Europe. Landmarks include the Markthal, an arched market hall with a ceiling painted with fruit and flowers, the tilted Cube Houses designed by Piet Blom and the Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed the Swan.

Visitors on a Rotterdam day trip from Amsterdam usually spend time walking between these landmarks and along the Maas river. If you ask whether Rotterdam is worth visiting, its architecture, waterfront and lively food halls make it the most modern face of the Netherlands, a clear contrast with Amsterdam's canal houses.

Delft and Royal Delft

Delft is a small, graceful city of canals, bridges and gabled houses, best known for the painter Johannes Vermeer and for Delft blue pottery. Royal Delft, founded in 1653, is the only remaining factory from that period still making hand-painted blue and white earthenware, and its workshop and museum show how the design travelled from Chinese porcelain to Dutch tiles and plates.

The Markt, the central square, has the Nieuwe Kerk, where members of the Dutch royal house are buried, facing the town hall. Delft is compact and walkable, so a Delft day trip from Amsterdam gives time to stroll the canals and browse the pottery shops after the Royal Delft visit.

The Hague, seat of government

The Hague is where the Dutch government sits, although Amsterdam is the capital. The Binnenhof, a medieval complex of buildings around a courtyard, has housed parliament for centuries, and the Ridderzaal, the Knights' Hall, is used for state occasions. The Hague is also known as the international city of peace and justice.

The Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice, is one of the city's most photographed buildings, and the nearby Mauritshuis holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. The North Sea coast at Scheveningen is close by. The best time to visit The Hague is spring or early autumn, when the weather is mild for walking.

How the day works

The three cities are close together: Amsterdam to Rotterdam is about an hour by road, Rotterdam to Delft about 20 minutes, and Delft to The Hague about 15 minutes. A guide accompanies the group in a shared format and explains the history of each place. Details of what each option includes, such as entry to specific attractions, appear in the booking panel.

The meeting point and start time are shown on your voucher after booking. Wear comfortable walking shoes, since the day involves city walking, and check the weather because Dutch days can change quickly.