Stadhuis Delft, Delft, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Stadhuis Delft is the town hall of Delft, a Renaissance building on the Markt, the main square of the city. It stands directly opposite the Nieuwe Kerk and has been the centre of civic life here for centuries. It is one of the best places to understand how Delft sees itself, as a city of justice, trade and Dutch history.

The story behind it

Delft has had a town hall on this spot since the Middle Ages, and the older tower still anchors the building today. The main part you see on the square dates from the early 17th century, when the town hall was rebuilt in Renaissance style by the architect Hendrick de Keyser after a fire. The result is a mix of an older tower and a later, more ornate front.

The building also carries the theme of justice. Justitia, the personification of Lady Justice, is linked with the building, and a city prison once existed in the town hall complex, which explains why the figure suits the place. The square is also tied to the story of Willem the Silent (Willem van Oranje), leader of the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule and founder of the House of Orange-Nassau. He was assassinated in Delft in 1584 and is buried in the Nieuwe Kerk, just across the Markt.

What to look for

• Compare the older tower with the Renaissance front, and notice how two different eras sit side by side in one building.
• Look for the figure and the word linked to Justitia, Lady Justice, which tells you what the building was meant to stand for.
• Step back to take in the full facade from the middle of the Markt, where the stonework and windows read best.
• Turn around and look at the Nieuwe Kerk opposite, since the two buildings face each other across the square and tell a shared story.

Tips for your visit

• Seeing the outside is free and takes about 10 to 15 minutes, longer if you pause in the square for a coffee.
• Morning is calmer, while later in the day the square is livelier and the light is warm on the facade.
• The town hall is still used for civic purposes, so check current opening hours and whether you can enter before you plan on going inside.
• The Nieuwe Kerk, the Prinsenhof and the canals are all within a short walk, so it works well as the start of a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

The best way to see Stadhuis Delft is as one stop on a longer walk. Highlights of Delft: The Blue's Clues is a self-guided city walk that takes you on foot through the main sights of the old town. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look closely at the building instead of passing by. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.