GUIDE | DELFT

Photo Spots in Delft: Markt, Canals and Quiet Lanes

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Parents holding their two laughing children upside down on the Markt, the Nieuwe Kerk tower behind them, on a family photo walk in Delft

These photo spots in Delft all come from my own sessions in the old center. They run from the Oude Delft and the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk, across the Markt, to the Vrouwenregt and the quiet lanes behind the Nieuwe Kerk. Walked end to end, the route takes less than ten minutes.

I photographed three sessions here: a wedding at City Hall in late May, a young family in August and three generations in October. For every spot, you see when we were there, what the light did and what it gave us. Still deciding on a session? Start with how I work as a photographer in Delft.

At a glance

Spots: 1 The Oude Delft and the Oude Kerk | 2 Carved doorways and a small bridge | 3 Delft City Hall | 4 The Markt and the Nieuwe Kerk | 5 The Vrouwenregt | 6 Lanes behind the Nieuwe Kerk
Walking order: West to east, less than ten minutes on foot without stops
Per session: The old center as one area for a one-hour session
Light in these sessions: Bright sun and white clouds in May | A soft white sky in August and October
Busy: The Markt in both sessions there | The weekly market on the Markt on Thursdays

Photo Spots Around the Oude Kerk

The west side of the old center belongs to the Oude Kerk, the oldest church in Delft. Its tower stands right by the Oude Delft, the oldest canal in the city, and leans almost two meters out of plumb.

1. The Oude Delft and the Leaning Tower

August, 16:07–16:11 | A tree-lined canal, flower boxes on the bridge | A few minutes from the Markt

From a bridge over the Oude Delft, the canal runs straight toward the tower between two rows of trees. In August, boxes of pink and red flowers hung along the white railing. A young family started their walk with me here, the little boy in his father’s arms.

Family of four on a canal bridge with pink flower boxes, the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk rising at the end of the tree-lined Oude Delft — The Oude Delft and the leaning tower of the Oude Kerk, 16:10

That afternoon, the sky stayed white and even. As a result, the faces looked soft, while the flowers and the leaves kept their color. Every frame of that walk is in a family walk in Delft.

2. Carved Doorways and a Small Bridge

August, 16:14–16:26 | Old front doors with stone steps | A small arched bridge with flower boxes

Girl throwing her arms up in a white carved doorway between two old lanterns, her parents and baby brother smiling behind her

A few minutes from the bridge, old houses have grand front doors. On the stone step of a black carved door, the two children sat side by side. A minute later, the whole family stood in a white doorway between two old lanterns.

Small bridges cross the canals all around here. On one of them, a big tree spread over the street, and boxes of red and pink flowers lined the railing. In the frame, the arch and the dark water fill the lower half, with the family small on top.

Small arched brick bridge with white railings and red flower boxes over a dark canal, a family standing on top, a quiet photo spot in Delft — A small arched bridge, 16:26

The Markt, Between City Hall and the Nieuwe Kerk

The Markt is the long square at the heart of Delft. City Hall closes it at the west end, and the Nieuwe Kerk at the east end. Old gables and café terraces line both long sides.

3. Delft City Hall

May, 13:24–14:59 | August, 16:58–17:01 | A wedding room inside, a stone doorway outside

Delft City Hall is a Renaissance building with red shutters and a popular place for civil weddings. On the last day of May, I photographed a wedding here, from the empty room to the cheers on the square.

Empty wedding room in Delft City Hall with dark beams, brass chandeliers, two old portraits and a golden harp, seen through an open door

Before the guests arrived, I photographed the wedding room through its open door: dark beams, brass chandeliers, old portraits and a golden harp. After the ceremony, the couple stepped out onto a blue carpet in bright sun. The whole day is in a spring wedding at Delft City Hall.

Smiling bride holding a cascade of white orchids beside her groom on the blue carpet outside Delft City Hall, guests looking on behind

Father crouching with his daughter and mother holding their son at the foot of the carved stone doorway of City Hall, a photo spot in Delft — City Hall at 14:52 in May and at 16:58 in August

In August, the young family’s walk ended on the Markt too. Under the stone doorway of City Hall, the four of them stood small between carved columns and two big stone scrolls.

4. The Markt and the Nieuwe Kerk Tower

May, 13:24–14:00 | August, 16:51–17:04 | Weekly market on Thursdays

Across the square rises the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk, the second tallest church tower in the Netherlands. In August, the parents held their children upside down in front of it, and that laugh opens this guide.

Sunny Markt with gabled houses, striped café awnings and the two dark spires of the Maria van Jessekerk under big white clouds — The south side of the Markt and the spires of the Maria van Jessekerk, 13:26

Toddler in corduroy overalls crawling across the herringbone cobbles of the Markt, church spires behind him, on a photo walk in Delft

Behind the gables on the south side, the two spires of the Maria van Jessekerk rise above the roofs. In May, bright sun and big white clouds took turns over the square. Under a white August sky, the little boy crawled across the cobbles with those spires behind him.

From experience

Of all the photo spots in Delft, the Markt is the busiest, and both sessions there met a full square. Instead of waiting for an empty square, I work low and close: a toddler on the cobbles, a child lifted high against the tower. The crowd then turns into soft movement behind them. On Thursdays, the weekly market stands on the square until late afternoon, and I plan the route around it.

Behind the Nieuwe Kerk: Water and Quiet Lanes

5. The Vrouwenregt and Its Little Bridge

October, 15:21–15:31 | Right behind the Nieuwe Kerk | A bench by the water and two bridges

Walk around the Nieuwe Kerk, and the busy square gives way to a small canal, the Vrouwenregt. Here the brick walls of the church rise straight from the water. In October, three generations of one family began their session on a bench across the water from the church.

Eight members of one family on the Vrouwe van Rijnsburgerbrug, its name carved in stone above the dark water of the Vrouwenregt

Two minutes later, they stood on the Vrouwe van Rijnsburgerbrug, a small arched bridge with white railings. A stone in the quay wall carries its name, and it is one of the oldest bridges in Delft.

Three generations leaning side by side on a white bridge railing, the old brick and stone walls of the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft behind them — The white railing of the Vrouwe van Rijnsburgerbrug, 15:25

A second canal bridge lies a few minutes farther on. In October, its trees were just turning yellow, and a weeping willow rose behind the family. The whole afternoon is in three generations in Delft.

Arm in arm on a canal bridge, a family of eight with a weeping willow and yellowing autumn trees behind them, a photo spot in Delft — A second canal bridge, 15:31

6. Lanes With a View of the Tower

October, 15:33–16:14 | Red doors and hanging geraniums | Quiet during our session

Behind the church, narrow lanes run between old brick houses. Some end at a tall Gothic window of the Nieuwe Kerk, while others frame its tower straight ahead. That October afternoon, only a few people passed by.

Grandparents walking a toddler in rust overalls by the hands down a brick lane, a tall Gothic window of the Nieuwe Kerk behind them

Little boy in rust corduroy overalls standing on a doorstep under a hanging basket of pink geraniums, during a family photo session in Delft — A lane toward the Nieuwe Kerk at 15:33 and a hanging basket of geraniums at 15:37

Grandfather in round glasses with his arms crossed in a narrow lane, the tower of the Nieuwe Kerk rising at the end of the street

In one lane, the tower rises right at the end of the street. We stayed there for about half an hour, so everyone had a portrait of their own. Because the lane is narrow, the houses on both sides lead the eye to the tower.

Close group of three generations in a narrow lane of old houses, the Nieuwe Kerk tower straight ahead, a quiet photo spot in Delft — The lane with the Nieuwe Kerk tower, 15:42

How a Session at These Photo Spots in Delft Works

All these photo spots in Delft lie close together in the old center. For a one-hour session, we stay within one area, because moving between separate areas takes time away from photographing. In Delft, one area still holds a lot: in August, about an hour took us from the Oude Kerk to the Markt on foot.

Couple in a cream shirt and a pink headscarf smiling as they hold each other on the Markt, gabled houses and church spires softly blurred

I suggest the area and map out the route, based on the light, the atmosphere and the surroundings. Before the day, I also share outfit suggestions, and one or two outfits work well. During the session, I guide you with simple direction, so you can relax and enjoy the walk.

Light rain is usually not a problem. If I confirm that the weather makes a session impractical, you can reschedule without extra cost. After the session, your digital gallery is normally ready within seven days.

Ready to walk through Delft together? Discover how I work as a photographer in Delft.