Private Tour of Vermeer's Delft + Tickets to Vermeer Museum

Overview

Discover Delft and visit the places that played a role in Vermeer's life, as you literally walk in his footsteps during this private walking tour. From the place where Vermeer was born, to where he lived and from the location of the 'Little Street' to his grave tomb. It's all there. You won't look at Vermeer's work in the same way again. After the walking tour, you have the chance to visit the Vermeer Centre, a museum dedicated to the life and work of the painter. It is located in the restored former St. Lucas Guilde in Delft. You'll see a chronological overview of all his work (photocopies) and learn about the symbolism and techniques he used. The tour takes about 2.5 hours (excluding the self-guided museum visit after) and it starts and ends in the city center. You can also choose to be picked up and dropped off at a location of your choice, like in Amsterdam. This guided tour is ideal for art lovers seeking context, depth, and a personal experience.

Itinerary

1. Markt

   Your tour starts on the Markt square of Delft. This is where most of Vermeer's life has happened. There are many things to see here: The New Church, Hugo Grotius' statue, Vermeer's father's old house, Vermeer's later own house, the town hall, the oldest shop of Delft, the butter house, the weighing house and more! Your guide will tell you all about it.

   · 20 min

2. Vieille église

   After the Markt square, we will make our way towards the Old Church. Next to many other famous Dutch people, this is also the church where Johannes Vermeer has been buried. We will also enter the church and visit his grave.

   · 45 min· Admission included

3. Museum Prinsenhof Delft

   When you visit Delft, you also have to visit the Prinsenhof, the place where the Father of the Fatherland has been killed. This happened almost 50 years before Vermeer was born, but it has played a decisive role in the city's history.

   · 15 min

4. Gemeenlandshuis van Delfland

   As we make our way to the south of Delft, from where 'The View of Delft' has been made, we first pass by a quite impressive facade from the year 1500: that of the water board. Your guide will tell you all about it.

   · 10 min

5. When we are almost at the south end of the city, we will pass by a building of the Dutch East India Company, its Delft chamber. It is the Dutch East India Company that made exotic materials and pigments available and indirectly facilitated Vermeer's carreer.

   · 20 min

6. Opposite of the Dutch East India Company building, we can see a former weapon's arsenal belonging to the state of Holland. An early version of this building can be seen on Vermeer's View of Delft.

   · Non-stop passage

7. From here, we can look at Delft from exactly the same angle as Vermeer, when he made the sketches for his famous painting of the city. Let's see what we can still recognize today.

   · 20 min

8. Maria van Jessekerk

   As we have made our way back north again, we will see the Maria van Jessekerk, a catholic church. In Vermeer's time, this was the location where catholics used to live and organise hidden church services. That is why this is also where Vermeer's house (that of his mother in law, where he lived) used to stand, where he made all his paintings. New information from 2023 seems to suggest that the house is not demolished however.. Let's see if the curtains are finally open.

   · 30 min

9. Before we go to the Vermeer Museum, we should visit the Vlamingstraat. It is now believed that number 42 on this street is depicted on Vermeer's other painting of a little street in Delft. Let's see what it looks like now.

   · 15 min

10. Vermeer Centrum Delft

    You will now enter the Vermeer Centrum, a museum dedicated to the work and live of Vermeer, housed in the former artists' guild of Delft. Vermeer has been here a lot and even became the president of the painters within the guilde.

    · 1 h 30 min· Admission included

Pickup

Pickup or meet at the departure point.

If you book an option that includes a pick-up and drop-off, you will be picked up from the location you select, up to 1 hour before the tour starts. You are dropped off again afterwards. We will contact you beforehand to coordinate this. If you book an option that does not include a pick-up and a drop-off, you will meet your guide at the meeting point.

How to use your ticket

Meeting point

What to know before you go

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Travelers

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• From 1 days before : 100% refunded
• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 399542P14

Activity offered by Discover Delft via Viator.