Explore Delft
Restaurants
Cafes
Bars
Museums
Attractions
Parks
Coworking
Neighborhoods
Day Trips
Healthcare
Schools
Shopping
Delft is one of the best-preserved historic cities in the Netherlands. A compact, beautiful canal city that is home to TU Delft – one of the world’s top engineering universities – and the birthplace of Vermeer. Just 10 minutes from The Hague and 15 minutes from Rotterdam by train.
Population
105,000
Expat residents
15,000+
1-bed rent (central)
1,200-1,700/mo
Train to Den Haag
10 minutes
Train to Rotterdam
15 minutes
Train to Amsterdam
60 minutes
The city
Why Delft
Delft is arguably the most beautiful small city in the Netherlands. The Markt square with the New Church and the City Hall, the Oude Kerk, the historic canals and the Delftware pottery tradition make it genuinely distinctive. Vermeer was born here and the city’s Golden Age heritage is palpable.
TU Delft brings a large international academic and research community to the city. The university is consistently ranked among the world’s top technical universities and attracts students and researchers from across the globe. The expat community here is educated, international and well-integrated.
For expats working in The Hague or Rotterdam, Delft’s central location and lower rents make it an attractive base.
Practical info
Getting around and settling in
Getting around: Excellent train connections. Delft is very compact and completely cyclable. Den Haag 10 minutes, Rotterdam 15 minutes.
Language: English widely spoken, particularly in the university community.
Cost of living: More affordable than The Hague and Rotterdam. See our cost of living guide.
Healthcare: Dutch health insurance mandatory. Register with a GP on arrival. See our health insurance guide.
Just arrived
Your first two weeks in Delft
1
Register at the Delft gemeente and get your BSN
Essential first step. Gemeente guide and BSN guide.
2
Open a Dutch bank account
ABN AMRO, ING and bunq are the most expat-friendly. Full guide.
3
Arrange health insurance within four months
Mandatory and backdates to arrival. Full guide.
4
Set up your DigiD
Required for all Dutch government services. Full guide.
5
Visit the Markt and Old Church
The best introduction to Delft – one of the finest market squares in the Netherlands.