DELFT. DELFTWARE, VERMEER AND THE ROYAL HOUSE. The university town Delft has a rich history. Strolling through the picturesque city centre or sailing through the centuriesold canals, you can imagine being in the 17th century. The beautiful historic buildings and churches are a reminder of the prosperity that the city enjoyed during that period.
3. Museum Prinsenhof Delft Museum Prinsenhof Delft is housed in a beautiful listed building that was once the residence of William of Orange. Here you can explore the history of the Netherlands and the evolution of Delft Blue. www.prinsenhof-delft.nl
In Delft you will discover the story of William of Orange, the Dutch nobleman who established the principles that the Netherlands is so proud of: freedom of religion and freedom of expression. William of Orange, known as the founder of the Netherlands, also provided the country with the foundations that it has today. In Delft you will also discover the worldfamous painter Johannes Vermeer. The Master of Light lived and worked in Delft his entire life and was the painter of the most famous girl of Delft: the Girl with a Pearl Earring. Delft is also the city where Delft Blue pottery developed into an international phenomenon. In the earthenware factories, you can see and experience how the world-famous Delftware is manufactured according to traditional methods. But there is more to discover in Delft than just history.
Royal Delft
Delft is known for its cosy and friendly cafés and restaurants. Along the canals and in the intimate streets, you will stumble upon various stylish coffee stalls, cosy cafés and trendy restaurants. In the centre, you can browse around all day long for unique and contemporary must-haves in the trendy shops. The lively plazas and outdoor cafés complete the picture of this dynamic university town.
4. Royal Delft Royal Delft is the only remaining pottery factory dating from the 17th century that still produces Delft Blue pottery. Watch master painters practice their craft with passion and enthusiasm according to centuries-old traditions. www.royaldelft.com De Delftse Pauw
HIGHLIGHTS DELFT New Church
ROTTERDAM. A CITY TO DISCOVER.
Museum Prinsenhof Delft
Delft Blue in the heart of Delft
Old Church
ss Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a young, dynamic metropolis which keeps developing rapidly. Sparkling skyscrapers, an impressive port, hip restaurants and food markets, renowned museums, special attractions and awesome festivals are the direct result of the can do mentality of the people of Rotterdam. Rotterdam is considered the most modern city of the Netherlands. Atypical in its own country, internationally renowned for its passion for innovation and its unpolished charms. The dynamics of Rotterdam ensure that the city lets itself be discovered again and again. Rotterdam embraces the experiment; nearly everything is possible. You are constantly surprised by new initiatives: from a city garden on a rooftop to a music festival in the docks, from an exclusive rooftop bar to a beer brewery in an old warehouse. From trees floating on water to an old swimming pool that has been magically transformed into a laboratory of the future where you can eat oyster mushrooms that have been cultivated on coffee grounds. Rotterdam is a bubbly mix of innovative architecture, lively festivals and challenging art and culture. The many exhibitions in top museums are well worth a visit. Just like the internationally acclaimed festivals such as the swinging Zomercarnaval (Summer Carnival), the North Sea Jazz Festival and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Those who love shopping can also enjoy themselves to their heart's content in Rotterdam, where the shops are open seven days a week. They will find a mix of unique shops of local designers and luxury department stores where exclusive brands are sold. In short, it is all happening in Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a ‘must see’ city. Tough, lively, diverse and always changing.
HIGHLIGHTS ROTTERDAM Rotterdam Centraal
5. ss Rotterdam The Steamship Rotterdam is the former flagship of the Holland America Line and permanently moored in the Maashaven. The general areas on the ship, including the restaurants, are open to the public. www.ssrotterdam.nl Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
THE HAGUE. INTERNATIONAL CITY BY THE SEA. The Hague has a lot to offer: 11 km of sandy beaches, a ferris wheel on the pier and the chance to eat lunch in one of the many beach cafes and bars. After that, why not catch a tram: in just 15 minutes it will get you into the city centre. The Hague is a city packed with historic buildings, such as the Binnenhof and Hotel des Indes, as well as all kinds of shopping opportunities in luxury shops with international allure: De Bijenkorf, Grote Marktstraat, Nieuwe Passage, Haagse Passage, Hoogstraat and Noordeinde. Also, museums such as the Mauritshuis, Escher in het Paleis and Panorama Mesdag are certainly worth a visit. If you are a fan of modern art or have a hankering to see the Netherlands in miniature, then why not hop onto one of the green and yellow city bikes and head to the Gemeentemuseum and Madurodam. The Hague is also a royal city, as is clear from its many monuments and palaces. In the summer, Noordeinde Palace is open and on Prinsjesdag (Prince’s Day) you will see the king and queen passing by in a grand procession. You never know your luck, you might also spot a member of the royal family just walking down the street. The Peace Palace is testament to the fact that The Hague is also the International City of Peace and Justice. The fabulous visitors centre will teach you everything you need to know about this building, dating back to the start of the 20th century and founded by Andrew Carnegie. There’s so much to see and experience in The Hague!!
6. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has an impressive collection of masterpieces from the Early Middle Ages to the 21st century, including works by Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch, Magritte, Kandinsky and Rubens. www.boijmans.nl
HIGHLIGHTS THE HAGUE The Pier
WELCOME TO: THE HAGUE DELFT ROTTERDAM Panorama Mesdag
Gemeentemuseum
Kunsthal Rotterdam
5. De Delftse Pauw Pottery factory De Delftse Pauw is a family business that offers a free tour informing you about the production process of Delft Blue. A range of handpainted products are on sale in the showroom shop. www.delftsepauw.com 6. Delft Blue in the heart of Delft An abundance of Delft Blue is on display in shops in the heart of the city. In addition to authentic Delft Blue pottery, these stores also stock many fun souvenirs. www.candelaer.nl // www.bluetulip.nl // www.madameblue.nl Vermeer Centrum Delft
1. New Church From the distance you can see the nearly 110 metres high pointed tower of the New Church. Climb this tower and enjoy a magnificent view across the city and surrounding area. www.oudeennieuwekerkdelft.nl/nieuwe-kerk
Guided boat tour
1. Rotterdam Centraal Central Station is one of the most iconic architectural features in Rotterdam. The roof over the tracks is partly covered in solar panels. Its point aims towards the city centre.
7. Kunsthal Rotterdam Kunsthal Rotterdam is housed in a striking building designed by Rem Koolhaas architectural practice. It offers a full spectrum of culture, including old and new art, design and photography, from avant-garde to popular. www.kunsthal.nl Kubuswoningen
Markthal
1. The Pier The Pier is the most famous attraction on the Dutch coast. Restaurants and attractions make your stay perfect. www.pierscheveningen.nl
The Prison Gate Museum
8. Kubuswoningen Piet Blom’s cube houses are one of Rotterdam’s most famous sights! The Kijk-Kubus (Show-Cube), a furnished museum house, shows what it’s what it’s like to live surrounded by slanted walls. 7. Vermeer Centrum Delft In Vermeer Centrum Delft you can learn about the life and work of Johannes Vermeer, the world-renowned painter who spent his entire life living and working in Delft. www.vermeerdelft.nl 8. Guided boat tour A proper visit to Delft should always include a canal tour. Sail past historical landmarks and under the centuries-old arched bridges and learn all about the history of Delft. www.rondvaartdelft.nl
2. De Markthal The Markthal has about 100 food stands, nearly 15 shops and various restaurants. Look up and discover the biggest artwork in the Netherlands, the wall painting the Horn of Plenty. www.markthal.nl Euromast
Spido and Port of Rotterdam
8. Binnenhof The Binnenhof, the Knights’ Hall, the Prime Minister’s Little Tower and the Hofvijver are some of the most famous Dutch landmarks. www.prodemos.nl/binnenhof 3. Museum The Mauritshuis The Mauritshuis shows you beautiful 17th century paintings: Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and Rembrandt’s “The Anatomy Lesson” www.mauritshuis.nl
University City
Escher in the Palace Museum
Madurodam 9. Peace Palace The palace was built 100 years ago. A solid foundation was laid for The Hague as an international city of Peace and Justice. www.vredespaleis.nl
9. Spido and Port of Rotterdam The port city of Rotterdam has lots of amusement and entertainment to offer on and around the water. Go on a tour with Spido, one of Rotterdam’s biggest attractions. www.spido.nl
Spui 68 | 2511 BT The Hague
T +31 (0)70 3618860 E vvv@denhaag.com I www.denhaag.com WhatsApp +31(0)655376853 | facebook.com/thisisthehague twitter.com/the_hague
Peace Palace
4. The Prison Gate Museum Museum De Gevangenpoort provides spectaculary the way Dutch prisoners were treated from the 15th ‘till the 19th century. www.gevangenpoort.nl
Hotel New York
THE HAGUE TOURIST INFORMATION
Binnenhof
2. Gemeentemuseum The Hague Enjoy the unique collection of paintings by Piet Mondrian, a superb silver collection and painstakingly decorated Delft Blue. www.gemeentemuseum.nl The Mauritshuis
2. Old Church Several hundred metres from the New Church you will find the Old Church; also known by Delft locals as ‘Scheve Jan’ (‘Leaning Jan’) due to its prominent leaning tower. www.oudeennieuwekerkdelft.nl/oude-kerk
7. Panorama Mesdag Look 360º around you and experience the magical optical illusion created by this panorama of Scheveningen from 1881. www.panoramamesdag.nl
Louwman Automobile Museum
Diergaarde Blijdorp
DELFT TOURIST INFORMATION T +31 (0)15 2154051 E hello@delft.com I www.delft.com WhatsApp +31(0)621330633 | facebook.com/visitdelft
ROTTERDAM TOURIST INFORMATION Coolsingel 114 | 3011 AG Rotterdam
T +31 (0)10 7900185 E info@rotterdamtouristinformation.nl I www.rotterdam.info @rotterdam_info | facebook.com/Rotterdam.info
BooQi products are produced under license and are subject to design registrations and trademarks. NO 30039/31
Kerkstraat 3 | 2611 GX Delft
9. University city One attractive aspect of Delft is that ‘old and new’ go together like salt and pepper. Go on a tour of the Technical University Delft campus and learn about the latest innovations and its rich history. www.sciencecentre.tudelft.nl
3. Euromast Enjoy a 360 view over Rotterdam and its surroundings on the Euromast observation tower. The Euroscope revolving lift takes people to a height of 185 metres. www.euromast.nl 4. Hotel New York This hotel and restaurant was formerly the Holland-America Line head office. From here Dutch immigrants set sail to seek a new life in North America. www.hotelnewyork.nl
10. Diergaarde Blijdorp Every corner of the world has its place in Rotterdam Zoo. The African Savanna, with the infamous gorilla Bokito, the glass tunnel through the Oceanium and the Asian Jungle Trek. www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl
5. Escher in the Palace Museum This former palace of Queen Emma is dedicated to the work of M.C. Escher. Nothing is as it seems in the works of this graphic artist. www.escherinhetpaleis.nl 6. Madurodam Miniature city Madurodam brings the big stories behind many Dutch miniature buildings to life. www.madurodam.nl
10. Louwman Automobile Museum This is home to the world’s oldest private collection of motorcars. Connoisseurs consider it as one of the finest in the world. www.louwmanmuseum.nl
THE HAGUE, DELFT AND ROTTERDAM ARE NOT ONLY POPULAR CITIES, BUT ALSO THE IDEAL DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY IN THE NETHERLANDS. In these three cities, you will experience a unique mix of hipness, history, royalty and beach. The cities are located at less than a 30 minute drive from each other and are easy to reach thanks to good train and tram connections. Whether you come by plane and land on Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Rotterdam - The Hague Airport, or arrive by boat at Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland), the three cities are reachable within 45 minutes. The harbour city Rotterdam is known for its innovative architecture, modern art and design. In the royal city of The Hague, situated along the coast, you can enjoy numerous attractions and sights, while in the historic and picturesque Delft, you can discover how the Netherlands was created.
THERE’S NOTHING MORE FUN THAN MIXING A NICE CITY BREAK WITH A DAY TRIP TO A BEAUTIFUL NATURE RESERVE. The areas surrounding The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam are perfect for this. The 11 kilometre long beach of The Hague on the backdrop of the beautiful dune area is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy a beautiful sunset. Is the authentic Dutch polder landscape more your cup of tea? The beautiful MiddenDelfland is located between Delft and Rotterdam and it’s ideal for hikes, bike rides or excursions by car. You will encounter authentic Dutch villages, vast meadows, tranquil natural landscapes and cosy cafés and restaurants where you can unwind.
THE THREE CITIES OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF ACCOMMODATIONS; FROM COSY FAMILY HOTELS OR BED & BREAKFASTS TO LUXURIOUS 5-STAR HOTELS. Thanks to its central location and excellent accessibility, the area also serves as a good starting point for visiting other highlights in the Netherlands, such as the world-famous windmills of Kinderdijk (approximately 30 minutes away) or Amsterdam. In short: discover the Netherlands in and from The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam.