Wanderyn
Nieuwe Kerk, Delft
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · NL

Nieuwe Kerk, Delft

Getting around: On the Markt in central Delft, an easy walk from the train station and any point in the old town.
Hours: Typically open Monday to Saturday, roughly 10:00-17:00 (shorter in winter), closed Sundays to visitors outside services; the tower climb usually shares similar hours but check separately since weather can close it.

Despite its name, the Nieuwe Kerk ("New Church") dates to the 14th and 15th centuries and is best known as the burial place of the Dutch royal House of Orange-Nassau, including William of Orange's elaborate mausoleum, and by extension every subsequent Dutch monarch. Its tower, rebuilt after a 19th-century fire, is climbable and one of the better viewpoints over Delft's compact old center and out toward The Hague.

As a still-consecrated royal burial church, its atmosphere is more solemn than purely touristic, and the crypt where monarchs are actually interred is not open to public view, though the mausoleum above it is.

Nieuwe Kerk, Delft FAQs

Is this where the Dutch royal family is buried?

Yes, the House of Orange-Nassau has been buried here since William of Orange, whose elaborate mausoleum is the church's centerpiece; the actual crypt is not open to public viewing.

Can I climb the tower?

Yes, for a separate fee, and it's one of the best views over Delft's old town — worth it on a clear day.

Is the church open on Sundays?

Typically not for tourist visits, since Sundays are reserved for services.

How long does a visit take?

Thirty to forty-five minutes for the interior, longer if you add the tower climb.

Is it the same church as the Oude Kerk?

No, they're two separate historic churches in Delft — the Oude Kerk is older and holds Vermeer's grave, while the Nieuwe Kerk holds the royal mausoleum.

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