Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
25 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
26 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Delft Museum Prinsenhof Delft

Museum Prinsenhof Delft

Now a museum, this building was once a 14th-century monastery and the place where the founder of the Dutch nation lived and was assassinated.

Delft, Netherlands

Added By
Babs , CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Prinsenhof Delft   Peter van der Wielen
Prinsenhof Delft   Peter van der Wielen
The entrance   BabsNL / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
The bullet holes   BabsNL / Atlas Obscura User
“The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Gravezande” by Cornelis de Man, which hangs in the Museum Prinsenhof. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the father of microbiology, stands behind Gravesande with his hand on his chest.   maren / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Upon entering the Phoenixstraat gate, visitors to the Museum Prinsenhof Delft may be surprised to discover a serene garden and a 14th-century monastery hidden away in a narrow alleyway off from one of the canal streets. The museum is a literal hidden gem that showcases Dutch history, culture, and the famous Delftware.

The 15th-century former nunnery functioned as the home of Willem de Zwijger (Willem the Silent) in the late 16th century. He chose the city and the building as his home due to its relative safety from would-be killers, but it was for naught as he was killed there in 1584. Visitors today can still see the bullet holes in the wall, which have grown in size over the centuries due to countless visitors sticking their fingers in them.

The museum features an exhibition dedicated to William's life and death as well as a variety of other exhibitions that showcase the rich history and culture of the Netherlands. There is a large collection of 17th-century Delftware, and a collection of Dutch art throughout the ages, including an exhibition dedicated to Vermeer.

Related Tags

Monasteries Museums History

Know Before You Go

Delft has a small medieval city center which is really not car friendly. Use a parking garage or better, public transport. It is an 8 minute walk from the train station or you can take Tram 1. Check the website for prices and discounts.

Community Contributors

Added By

BabsNL, CoolCrab

Edited By

Blindcolour, maren, Collector of Experiences

  • Blindcolour
  • maren
  • Collector of Experiences

Published

August 28, 2016

Updated

January 26, 2024

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://prinsenhof-delft.nl/
Museum Prinsenhof Delft
1 Sint Agathaplein
Delft
Netherlands
52.012136, 4.354596
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Vermeer's Grave

Delft, Netherlands

miles away

Reactor Institute Delft

Delft, Netherlands

miles away

Van Kleef Museum and Distillery

The Hague, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Delft

Delft

Netherlands

Places 3

Nearby Places

Vermeer's Grave

Delft, Netherlands

miles away

Reactor Institute Delft

Delft, Netherlands

miles away

Van Kleef Museum and Distillery

The Hague, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Delft

Delft

Netherlands

Places 3

Related Places

  • Standalone elevator entrance to the museum

    Aalborg, Denmark

    Franciscan Monastery Museum

    An underground museum of monks, bones, and medieval ruins.

  • Webster, Massachusetts

    Samuel Slater Experience

    This interactive museum is dedicated to the “Father of the American Industrial Revolution” and founder of one of the nation’s earliest boomtowns.

  • Martinsburg, West Virginia

    Belle Boyd House

    Once the home of a noted Civil War spy, the two-story brick house now serves as a museum.

  • Sign outside the tunnel leading from Market Street to Franklin Court

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Benjamin Franklin Museum and Court

    This overlooked courtyard and museum celebrate Benjamin Franklin's life and achievements.

  • One of the galleries in the modern section of the Manchester Jewish Museum.

    Manchester, England

    Manchester Jewish Museum

    A Victorian synagogue-turned-museum chronicles centuries of Jewish life.

  • Henry VIII’s Wine Cellar.

    London, England

    Henry VIII’s Wine Cellar

    Once part of a magnificent Tudor palace, this wine cellar is a time capsule underneath the Ministry of Defence.

  • Interior of the historic roundhouse.

    Baltimore, Maryland

    The B&O Railroad Museum

    At the birthplace of American railroading, a world-class collection of historic trains.

    Sponsored by Visit Maryland
  • Portumna, Ireland

    Irish Workhouse Centre

    A well-preserved, 19th-century Irish workhouse recounts a grim time in the country’s history.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.