Rondvaart Delft

Who they are

The canal cruise company of Delft, with a jetty and ticket office on the Koornmarkt, five minutes from the Markt. It has operated since 1968 under the name Rederij Brands: the Brands brothers inherited the business from their father and have been expanding it for fifty years.

The fleet

It has four tour boats, designed for Delft's narrow canals, with a glass roof that opens or closes according to the weather. Two are fully electric: the Willem de Zwijger (William the Silent), from 1997, and the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek, from 2016, with 48 seats each. The other two, the Hugo de Groot, with 40 seats, and the Johannes Vermeer, with 32, are diesel-powered. For small groups they have the E-hopper, an open electric launch for eight passengers plus the skipper, and they hire out pedal boats for four adults.

What they offer

The regular tour lasts about 50 minutes and covers the canals of the old town. The commentary tells the history of Delft, the blue pottery, the city's relationship with the royal family, the lives of Johannes Vermeer and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek and the role of the East India Company. The boats leave on the hour, from 11:00 to 17:00.

The E-hopper is hired for private tours with a free guide in English and a bad-weather guarantee, and there are packages that combine the boat with other activities. Groups are given tailor-made schedules.

Season

From 1 April to 31 October it sails every day, from 11:00 to 18:00. In November it sails at weekends, and on weekdays on request. In December it closes and reopens in March.

Bookings

Book by phone, by email at [email protected], with the booking button on their website or at the Koornmarkt 113 ticket office itself. For groups it is best to call or write beforehand. The website does not detail cancellation conditions or payment methods.

Getting there and parking

The jetty is right in the centre, within walking distance of nearly everything. Parking in Delft is difficult: the company recommends the Phoenix or Zuidpoort underground car parks, and for coaches there is an area on the Spoorsingel, in front of the Prinsenhof museum.

Languages and accessibility

The website is in Dutch, English, German and French. For the regular tours it does not say in which languages the commentary is given; private ones include a guide in English. It also publishes no information on wheelchair access or dogs, so it is best to ask by phone.