Essentials
- City
- Delft, South Holland, Netherlands
- Population
- 106,000
- Internet Speed
- 250 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Ziggo or KPN)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks include ABN AMRO and ING.
- Tap Water
- High-quality, drinkable (among the best in Europe)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- KPN, Vodafone, Odido (eSIM available starting at €15)
- Banking for Expats
- Bunq (Mobile-first), Revolut, ING (Requires BSN)
- Accommodation
- The Student Hotel (Co-living), Funda.nl (Long-term), Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. Debit cards (Maestro/V-Pay) preferred over Credit Cards.
- Short Term Rentals
- Booking.com, Airbnb, Case2Stay (Approx. €1,800/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Delft (Vrouw Juttenland 11), approx. €35/night for a dorm
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Oude Delft (Historic center near the New Church)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Hof van Delft or Voorhof (Quieter, better value, near TU Delft)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Student Hotel Collab (Van Leeuwenhoekpark 1), €150/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Kek (Voldersgracht 27) - laptop friendly on weekdays, great coffee
- Networking Events
- Delft Tech Meetups at YES!Delft (Molengraaffsingel 12)
- Social Events for Expats
- Delft Expats and Internationals Facebook Group meetups at Delftse Brouwers
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Mainly for trips to Rotterdam/The Hague), Bolt
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Swapfiets (€19,90/month), Donkey Republic (Orange rental bikes)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Scheveningen (The Hague), 25 mins by tram #1 or train
- Top Regional Airline
- Transavia (flying from Rotterdam The Hague Airport - RTM)
- Top International Airline
- KLM (flying from Amsterdam Schiphol - AMS)
- Highway Access
- Direct access to A13 (to Rotterdam/The Hague) and A4 (to Amsterdam)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Delft Station (Architectural landmark under the municipal office)
- Public Transport Passes
- OV-Chipkaart (Anonymous or Personal), NS Flex subscriptions
- Regional Travel
- NS Trains (15 mins to Rotterdam, 45 mins to Amsterdam)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis (Reinier de Graafweg 5)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Delft (Sint Agathaplein 4), €15 for a trial lesson
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Basic-Fit Delft (Martinus Nijhofflaan), approx. €25/month
- Laundry Services
- Wasserette De l'Est (Choorstraat 17)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Thuisbezorgd.nl, UberEats, Flink (Groceries)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Delftse boterkoek (Butter cake) and Poffertjes
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Hofje van Delft (Rotterdamseweg 51), 100% plant-based
- Best Dessert Spots
- Chocolaterie De Lelie (Voorstraat 10) for artisanal gelato and chocolate
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Lidl, Dirk van den Broek, and the Thursday Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bol.com, Coolblue, Amazon.nl
- Grocery Delivery
- Picnic (App-only, very popular), Albert Heijn (AH.nl)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Beestenmarkt (The city's main square for terraces and bars)
- Local Brewery
- Delftse Brouwers (located inside Stadscafé De Waag)
- Wine Bars
- Wine Bar De Kurk (Oude Delft 140)
- Street Food Stalls
- Haringkar (Herring stalls) at the Thursday market on Markt Square
- Popular International Cuisine
- Ramen Ohashi (Voldersgracht 4) for authentic Japanese
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Nieuwe Kerk (Royal Crypts), Oude Kerk (Leaning tower)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum Prinsenhof (Site of William of Orange assassination)
- Historical Sites
- Royal Delft (De Porceleyne Fles) - the last remaining Delftware factory from 1653
- Religious Sites
- Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), containing the tomb of William the Silent
- Annual Events
- Lichtjesavond (Evening of Lights in December), Delft Jazz Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Historic Centre (Binnenstad)
- Theater Venues
- Theater de Veste (Asvest 1)
- Local Markets
- Thursday Market (Markt) and Saturday Antique/Flower Market
- Music Scene
- Cultuurlab (Brabantse Turfmarkt 9) for indie concerts
- Street Art
- Blue Heart (Oude Langendijk) - iconic blue glass sculpture
- Cooking Classes
- Kookstudio Delft (Buitenwatersloot 323)
- Art Galleries
- Galerie de Spiegel (Vrouw Juttenland 22)
- Historic Buildings
- Stadhuis (City Hall) on the Markt, designed by Hendrick de Keyser
- Local Heritage
- Delft Blue Pottery (Delfts Blauw)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Delftse Hout (Park, lake, and urban forest)
- National Parks Nearby
- Duin en Kruidberg or National Park De Biesbosch (45 min drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Vlietpad (Cycling path along the canal to Leiden)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The top of the Nieuwe Kerk tower (Height: 108.75m)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ackerdijkse Plassen (South of Delft)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Prohibited in public; limited to private fire pits in Delftse Hout campsites
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- PostNL, DHL Parcel Points (Ex. at Albert Heijn centers)
- Tech Repair Services
- The Phone Lab (Binnenwatersloot 1)
- Table Tennis Spots
- DDTK Delft (Nieuwe Parklaan 8)
- Language Classes
- Direct Dutch Institute or TU Delft Language Centre
- Libraries & Study Spots
- TU Delft Library (Iconic sloped grass roof; check guest access)
- Community Centers
- OPEN (Vesteplein 100) - combined library and cultural space
- Gaming Lounges
- The Game Box (Nearby Rotterdam / Den Haag centers)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Fair Play Casino (Pauwenbest 500)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €208,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €164,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €294,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €228,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €368,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €280,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 19% up to €200,000; 25.8% above that
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income; 30% Ruling possible for high-skilled migrants
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 49.5% (Box 1 income over €75,518)
- VAT
- 21% Standard, 9% reduced (Food/Books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in accordance with EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- Yes (OZB), based on WOZ-waarde (Market value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 10.4% standard; 2% for primary residence; 0% for first-time buyers under 35
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 30% Ruling provides significant tax-free allowance for eligible expats