Good to know

You should call 112 “for urgent assistance in life-threatening situations or if you witness a crime”, as the Dutch government’s website says. This is obviously a vitally important phone number for you and members of your family to be aware of and memorise.

For more information, visit the relevant website of the Dutch government:
https://www.government.nl/topics/emergency-number-112.

The national Dutch Museumkaart entitles you to free entrance to more than 400 museums throughout the Netherlands, including leading museums like the Museum Prinsenhof Delft, the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam, and the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, in Rotterdam. The pass is valid for one year and can be purchased online (at https://www.museumkaart.nl/bestel). At the time of writing, a standard adult year-pass costs €75. Lower rates apply for children under the age of 19.

It is generally possible to bring a pet with you when you move to the Netherlands, but whether you are bringing a pet from another EU country or a non-EU country, regulations apply. Dogs, for example, must be microchipped and registered within two weeks of arriving in the Netherlands. Regulations also require a number of species of pets to be vaccinated against rabies. For details, see: https://www.government.nl/topics/animal-welfare/question-and-answer/can-i-bring-a-pet-from-another-country-to-the-netherlands. This site also covers the regulations governing the safe and humane treatment of pets in the Netherlands.

The website of the city of Delft is available in English as well as Dutch and contains a wide variety of very useful information about moving to or living in Delft. See: https://www.delft.nl/en.

The Netherlands has numerous reliable providers of 4G internet, telephone and television services. Installation of new services can be arranged very quickly and easily. The internet market is highly competitive. Differences in prices, speeds, services, terms, customer satisfaction etc. make careful consideration of the offers of various providers advisable.  

Free Wi-fi is widely available in a variety of public places: cafés, public libraries and many trains, for example.

Delft and the surrounding towns support and encourage the recycling of waste products, as do all communities in the Netherlands. Residents are encouraged to discard plastic, paper, glass and organic waste separately, and to dispose of chemical waste responsibly. The procedures for waste collection, recycling and the disposal of hazardous and chemical waste vary from town to town and in some cases, from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. For the procedures in Delft, see: https://www.delft.nl/en/housing/recycle-and-minimize.

This webpage also provides information about contributing items that are still useful but that you no longer need for re-use by someone else.

Water, gas and electricity are all metered services in the Netherlands. You will be responsible for contacting a provider and signing a contract for services. Water in the Delft area is provided by Evides (evides.nl). A variety of private companies provide natural gas and electricity. Rates and serices vary. It is also up to the customer to choose the energy source or mix of energy sources. The most important distinction is of course between various sources of sustainable and non-sustainable energy. For help in orienting in the energy market, see: https://www.iamexpat.nl/housing/dutch-housing-market/home-utilities/energy-electricity-gas

It is very important to record the readings of the water, gas and electricity meters when you occupy a residence, and to make sure that the providers of your water and energy also record the meter-readings at the time when your occupancy begins.

It is important to be aware that in the Netherlands, you are in most cases responsible for actively cancelling a subscription for a periodical or service several weeks before the subscription expires. If you do not officially cancel those subscriptions, they will automatically be extended for another year and you will be responsible for paying for them. Before you sign a contract for a subscription or service, be sure to check the terms and conditions carefully.

Precisely at noon on the first Monday of every month, the national public warning system is tested. Sirens sound for one minute and twenty-six seconds. While the system is being tested in this way, you can ignore it and go about your business.

The Dutch government also gives the following advice: “If you hear the siren at another time, go indoors immediately. Close all doors and windows and turn on the radio or TV and find the emergency station.” For further details, see: https://www.government.nl/topics/counterterrorism-and-national-security/question-and-answer/public-warning-sirens