← Utrecht Marathon·2 nights

Delft and The Hague: Vermeer Country After Utrecht

A blue-pottery town and a government city with a small museum that holds a famous Vermeer, plus a seafront within a tram ride.

Duration2 nights
TransitNS train from Utrecht Centraal to Delft, about 50 minutes, then Delft to The Hague, about 15 minutes
DepartsUtrecht Centraal

After the Utrecht Marathon: Delft and The Hague

The Route: Utrecht → Delft → The Hague → Schiphol Airport Logistics: NS train, about 50 minutes to Delft and about 15 minutes more to The Hague. Tram 1 runs from Den Haag Centraal to Scheveningen. Marathon Month: May Duration: 2 nights

Utrecht Centraal ──(about 50 min, NS)──> Delft ──(about 15 min, NS)──> The Hague
                                                                          │
Schiphol Airport (AMS) <──(about 30 min, NS)──────────────────────────────┘

Vermeer is buried in Delft, and the painting that made him famous hangs in The Hague, 15 minutes away by train. The two cities make a tidy pair for a two-night recovery trip, with museums, a canal-lined centre and a seafront at the end.

Pay with a contactless card or OVpay and check the NS planner.

May in Delft and The Hague: highs of 17°C to 19°C, with sun and sea breezes. Check opening days, because Monday closures are common.

Night One: Delft

Hotel de Plataan, near the Markt, is a small hotel in the centre. Confirm lifts and breakfast times when you book. The Markt is flat and cobbled, with the Nieuwe Kerk at one end. The Oude Kerk, with a leaning tower, holds Vermeer's grave. The Vermeer Centrum is a small museum of reproductions. Entry is around €15 and prices vary, so use the figure as a guide only.

The Royal Delft factory shows how blue-and-white earthenware is made. Check the schedule and book ahead.

Night Two: The Hague

Hotel Des Indes is a historic hotel near the centre, and other options are available around the station. Confirm lifts and breakfast times.

The Mauritshuis holds Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. Entry is about €20 and prices vary. Book a timed ticket. It has a lift and seating.

Tram 1 takes you to Scheveningen, where a flat promenade runs along a sandy beach. Wind can be brisk, so bring a layer.

Getting to Schiphol Airport (AMS)

The Hague to Schiphol takes about 30 minutes by train. Check the NS planner. Airport station is beneath Schiphol Plaza, with lifts to the terminal.