Internship in Delft, The Netherlands
Novianti Sidi
Hydro Science and Engineering, TUD
My experiences with finding an internship placement and applying
My path to this opportunity was perhaps a little different from most. Before coming to Germany, I worked for 5 years in Indonesia, and at some point, my path crossed with my future supervisor at Deltares through a joint collaboration event. After that, my boss at the time (shout out to Pak Ewin!) mentioned to her that I was doing my master’s, and shortly after I was offered the opportunity to do my internship and thesis placement at Deltares. I am very grateful for how things came through together, and I hope this shows sometimes the connections you build in your professional life can open doors you did not expect.
My experiences with finding accommodation and travelling there
My advice: start looking for housing as soon as your application is approved, do not wait! I found my place 4 months before my internship started, which gave me peace of mind. As an Indonesian, I benefited from the fact that there is a large Indonesian community in Delft, and I managed to find housing through one of the Indonesian community groups. It turned out to be, dare I say, the most affordable options available in the city (Thank you Hendrik Tollensstraat – you know who you are). I did also try Facebook groups and a makelaar, but in my experience, asking within your network or community is often the most effective approach.
My advise:
That is the best advice I can give: Try to say yes more often.
My experiences during the internship
I struggled at times to keep up with how brilliant my colleagues are, but my supervisors and everyone around me were kind enough to spare their time for me. The initial weeks were not without their challenges. The pace was demanding, the tools were unfamiliar, and the gap between what I knew and what was expected of me felt wide. But with the support and guidance,
I received along the way, I learned more than I expected. The discussions and insights I gained during this time are something I will carry with me throughout my professional career.
My experiences with everyday life and leisure time on site
Delft is a nice place to be based, sitting between Den Haag and Rotterdam with so much to see and do. I was lucky to be here during spring and summer, though the first few months were still the transition from winter. It was cold, and very windy! Getting around by bike is easy and enjoyable, but when the wind hits you, you feel less like a cyclist and more like a kite being dragged across the road. The city has a relaxed student atmosphere, although I did not get to explore the Netherlands as much as I would have liked, as the workload kept me busy. But there is certainly no shortage of things to do in and around Delft.
My conclusion & tips
The immigration process was one of the more challenging aspects, especially as a non-European passport holder. Being on an Erasmus+ internship helped enormously, without it, I would have needed to apply for a separate Dutch work permit, which is a much more complex process. I was also fortunate that my company provided access to a professional immigration consultant. On the social side, it took some time to feel like I truly belonged. My colleagues were mostly older, the hybrid working model meant less spontaneous interaction, and unlike university, there is no classroom forcing you to connect with people. But saying yes to every opportunity, such as intern events, things to do with housemates, and anything offered, made a real difference. It is the best advice I can give: try to say yes more.
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