Johannes Vermeer's Delft Walk (Self Guided), Delft

The Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer (1632 – 1675) spent almost his entire life in his home town, Delft. He left only a few times, towards the end, on the short trips to Amsterdam and The Hague.

The old Delft undoubtedly was one of the most typical little towns of the 17th-century Netherlands, and as such, was rather picturesque. Just like any other Dutch place, Delft was dominated by its towers: the Oude Kerk (Old Church) and the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which, together with many smaller spires of the earlier monasteries and chapels, gave the town its prickly silhouette.

Luckily, the heart of Delft today looks pretty much as it was back in Vermeer's day, with a good portion of architectural heritage, remembering the artist, still in place. There are acres of houses, churches, canals and squares that still stand in their full glory and can take you straight back into Vermeer's world.

Among them are the house where the painter was born – at Voldersgracht 26 (the former inn named "The Flying Fox"); the house where he lived – at Oude Langendijk; and Voldersgracht Street where he painted “The Little Street”. Another notable location is the Kolk Harbor, or De Kolk, depicted in Vermeer's "View of Delft" painting.

But undoubtedly, the best place to start a journey into the artist's life is the Vermeer Centre – housed in the historic Saint Luke Guild building. To see first-hand the locations that played an important role in the life of Johannes Vermeer, take this self-guided walking tour.