---
title: "Living in Deventer as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/deventer
description: "Hanseatic town on the IJssel with a medieval quarter and a huge book market"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Deventer, Netherlands

Deventer scores 69.9/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 82 of 1501 cities. Expect about $2,750 per month (country-level estimate), no dedicated nomad visa, and a measured median download speed of 101.1 Mbps.

Deventer is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands, a Hanseatic port on the IJssel with a well-preserved medieval quarter, a summer book market billed as Europe's largest and a Dickens festival before Christmas. Amsterdam is about 1 h 20 by train and Zwolle 25 min. Rents are moderate; the town is small and quiet, with few international residents or coworking options.

Known for: Bergkwartier medieval quarter, Europe's largest book market, Dickens Festival, Amsterdam in 1 h 20 by train.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 69.9 |
| Cost of living | 25 |
| Safety | 81 |
| Healthcare | 88 |
| Internet | 90 |
| Visa ease | 61 |
| Getting there & around | 72 |
| Climate | 25 |
| Air quality | 92 |
| Quality of life | 96 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $2,750 | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 0.66 | country | 2024 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 75 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | 85 | country | 2023 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 81.6 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 101.1 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 74.7 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Available | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | none listed | country | 2026-07 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | 90 days / unlimited / 90 days | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (AMS) | 289 | city | 2026-11 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 74 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 5 / 3 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 3 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 8.6 | city | 2023 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.955 | country | 2023 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | very-high | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Residents pay 35.75%–49.5% on worldwide earnings; savings and investments are taxed on a deemed return.** Once you live in the Netherlands you are taxed on worldwide income. Salary or freelance fees from abroad pay 35.75% to 49.5% (2026), national insurance included. Investment income is not taxed as received: instead box 3 taxes 36% of a fixed deemed return on net savings and investments above €59,357, about 0.46% a year on bank balances and 2.16% on investments. The 30% ruling helps only employees on a Dutch payroll.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | worldwide income |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (35.75% up to €38,883, 37.56% to €78,426, 49.5% above (2026, under state pension age; includes national insurance)) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | taxed (Box 3: 36% of a deemed return (2026 provisional: 1.28% on bank balances, 6.00% on other assets, minus 2.70% on debts) above €59,357 per person) |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; Box 3: 36% of a deemed return, about 0.46%–2.16% of net assets above €59,357 a year (2026); inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | home or ties test |
| Top income tax rate | 49.5% |

Residency: There is no day-count test. Where you live is judged by all the circumstances (General Tax Act, art. 4): the Netherlands looks for a lasting personal tie, such as a home you keep, a partner or children living with you, work and social life. The Tax Administration treats you as a resident taxpayer from the day you move. Anyone staying more than 4 months must register as a resident with the municipality (BRP); registration is an indicator, not the test itself. A tourist or short nomad stay in a holiday rental while keeping a home abroad normally does not make you resident, but renting a long-term home, registering and settling in will, even in the first months. If you leave and come back within a year without living in another country, you are treated as never having left.

Remote work: Salary from a foreign employer and fees from foreign clients are box 1 income, taxed like Dutch income. The first bracket's 35.75% is mostly national insurance contributions (8.10% is income tax), and tax credits (general credit up to €3,115, labour credit up to €5,685) lower the bill. A foreign employer without a Dutch establishment normally does not withhold Dutch wage tax, so you pay through your annual return or a provisional assessment, unless the employer opts to act as a Dutch withholding agent and runs a Dutch payroll. Wages for work physically done in the Netherlands count as Dutch income even for non-residents. Freelancers must register with the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), which passes the details to the Tax Administration for income tax and VAT; the KOR scheme waives VAT below €20,000 turnover a year. Freelancers who work at least 1,225 hours a year get a €1,200 self-employed deduction (plus €2,123 in early years), and 12.7% of the remaining profit is exempt. Everyone living in the Netherlands is covered by national insurance unless international rules keep them in another country's system, and anyone living or working there must take out Dutch basic health insurance. Foreign tax on the same income is relieved under treaties, capped at the Dutch tax.

Investments: Box 3 ignores the dividends, interest, rent and gains you actually receive. It taxes your worldwide net savings and investments (shares, funds, crypto, a second home or rental property, loans) at their 1 January value: each class gets a fixed deemed return and 36% of that is due, on the part of your net assets above the €59,357 allowance (€118,714 for tax partners). In 2026 that works out to about 0.46% a year on bank balances and 2.16% on investments and property. The 2026 percentages are provisional. Since the 2025 return you can declare your actual return (income plus value changes, including unrealised ones; most costs not deductible) if it is lower, and the cheaper result is used. Foreign tax on the same income is relieved under treaties or Dutch unilateral rules. A system taxing actual returns is planned for 2028: the lower house has passed it, but the Senate postponed its vote on 30 June 2026 pending an amending bill, so the start date is uncertain. Exceptions: dividends and gains on a shareholding of 5% or more (for example your own company) fall in box 2 at 24.5% up to €68,843 and 31% above; pensions from abroad are box 1 income at progressive rates where the treaty lets the Netherlands tax them.

On the nomad visa: The Netherlands has no digital nomad or remote-work visa. Non-EU freelancers usually need the self-employed residence permit, scored on experience and business plan and valid for up to 2 years at a time. US and Japanese citizens can use the treaty route instead (DAFT for Americans): a business investment of €4,500 for most legal forms and KVK registration within 6 months. Neither permit carries a tax regime, and the 30% ruling needs an employer, so it does not apply to the self-employed. Holders who rent, register and live there are resident taxpayers on worldwide income from arrival. US citizens on DAFT also stay taxable in the US on worldwide income and use the US foreign tax credit or earned income exclusion. EU citizens need no permit but must register after 4 months.

Schemes for newcomers:

- **Expat scheme (30% ruling, "30%-regeling" / "expatregeling")** (5 years): The employer can pay up to 30% of salary (allowance included) tax-free in 2026, capped at €78,600 (reached at a €262,000 salary). From 2027 the maximum falls to 27% for rulings granted from 2024, and rulings from 2025 also face a higher salary threshold; rulings in place by end-2023 keep 30%. The option to be treated as a partial non-resident (no box 2 and box 3 tax on foreign assets) ended with the 2025 return, except for pre-2024 users until the 2026 return. Who qualifies: Employees recruited from abroad who lived more than 150 km from the Dutch border for more than 16 of the 24 months before starting, with a 2026 taxable salary above €48,013 (€36,497 if under 30 with a master's degree). The employer must run Dutch payroll as withholding agent and apply with you; a foreign employer can qualify by opting into withholding agent status. Freelancers and the self-employed are excluded.

Official sources: [Algemene wet inzake rijksbelastingen, artikel 4](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002320/2026-01-01) (Overheid.nl, wetten.overheid.nl, read 2026-10-27); [Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001 (version from 1 January 2026)](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0011353/2026-01-01) (Overheid.nl, wetten.overheid.nl, read 2026-10-27); [Voorlopige aanslag 2026: gebruikte tarieven en heffingskortingen](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/voorlopige-aanslag/content/voorlopige-aanslag-tarieven-en-heffingskortingen) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Immigration checklist - what do I need to know?](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/immigration-checklist-what-do-i-need-to-know) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Wonen in Nederland - buitenlands inkomen](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/buitenland/content/wonen-in-nederland-buitenlands-inkomen) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Wat is mijn werkelijk rendement?](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/box-3/content/wat-is-mijn-werkelijk-rendement) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Senaat houdt stemming box 3-wet aan (30 June 2026)](https://www.eerstekamer.nl/nieuws/20260630/senaat_houdt_stemming_box_3_wet) (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal, read 2026-10-27); [Can I apply for the Expat Scheme (30% facility)?](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/coming-to-work-in-the-netherlands-30-percent-facility) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Expatregeling hoogopgeleide buitenlandse werknemers](https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/themas/werk/inkomstenbelasting/belastingvoordeel-buitenlandse-werknemers) (Rijksoverheid, read 2026-10-27); [You opt for withholding agent status](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontenten/belastingdienst/business/payroll_taxes/you_are_not_established_in_the_netherlands_are_you_required_to_withhold_payroll_taxes/when_must_you_withhold_payroll_taxes1/when_you_are_under_the_obligation_to_act_as_a_withholding_agent1/you_opt_for_withholding_agent_status) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Social security for cross-border working and entrepreneurship](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/en/individuals/content/social-security-for-cross-border-working-and-entrepreneurship) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Standard health insurance](https://www.government.nl/topics/health-insurance/standard-health-insurance) (Government of the Netherlands (government.nl), read 2026-10-27); [Get started as a freelancer or zzp'er in the Netherlands](https://business.gov.nl/starting-your-business/starting-as-a-self-employed-professional/get-started-as-a-freelancer-or-zzper/) (Business.gov.nl (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), read 2026-10-27); [When should I register with the Personal Records Database as a resident?](https://www.government.nl/faq/when-should-i-register-with-the-personal-records-database-as-a-resident) (Government of the Netherlands (government.nl), read 2026-10-27); [Successiewet 1956, artikelen 1 en 3](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002226/2026-01-01) (Overheid.nl, wetten.overheid.nl, read 2026-10-27); [Tarieven erfbelasting 2026](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/erfbelasting/content/tarieven-erfbelasting) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Hoeveel vrijstelling heb ik in 2026 voor de erfbelasting?](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/nl/erfbelasting/content/vrijstelling-erfbelasting) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Het tarief van de overdrachtsbelasting](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/woning/overdrachtsbelasting/tarieven_overdrachtsbelasting/het_tarief_van_de_overdrachtbelasting) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Wanneer kunt u de startersvrijstelling krijgen (overdrachtsbelasting)?](https://www.belastingdienst.nl/wps/wcm/connect/bldcontentnl/belastingdienst/prive/woning/overdrachtsbelasting/startersvrijstelling/startersvrijstelling) (Belastingdienst, read 2026-10-27); [Waar wordt de WOZ-waarde voor gebruikt?](https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/waardering-onroerende-zaken-woz/vraag-en-antwoord/waar-wordt-de-woz-waarde-voor-gebruikt) (Rijksoverheid, read 2026-10-27); [Residence permit self-employed person](https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/work/residence-permit-self-employed-person) (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (IND), read 2026-10-27); [U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS), read 2026-10-27).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 2.1 | 75 | 93 | no |
| Feb | 2.6 | 61 | 90 | no |
| Mar | 5.2 | 54 | 85 | no |
| Apr | 9.3 | 39 | 79 | no |
| May | 13 | 60 | 77 | no |
| Jun | 16.3 | 63 | 76 | yes |
| Jul | 18.2 | 79 | 77 | yes |
| Aug | 17.8 | 82 | 79 | yes |
| Sep | 14.7 | 61 | 81 | no |
| Oct | 10.6 | 67 | 86 | no |
| Nov | 6.4 | 69 | 92 | no |
| Dec | 3.1 | 76 | 94 | no |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Amsterdam Airport Schiphol | AMS | 289 | 288 | 22 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 289, of which 288 international (Wikipedia, 2026-11).

## Similar cities

- [Zwolle](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/zwolle) (69.9) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/deventer-vs-zwolle)
- [Groningen](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/groningen) (70) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/deventer-vs-groningen)
- [Nijmegen](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/nijmegen) (69) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/deventer-vs-nijmegen)
- [Apeldoorn](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/apeldoorn) (69.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/apeldoorn-vs-deventer)
- [Enschede](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/enschede) (70.6) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/deventer-vs-enschede)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Deventer as a digital nomad?

A single person typically spends about $2,750 per month in Deventer (a country-level estimate for Netherlands). That is a 25/100 cost score, where 100 is the cheapest city in the dataset.

### Is Deventer safe for digital nomads?

Deventer scores 81/100 on safety. Netherlands records 0.66 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2024) and a political-stability score of 75/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Netherlands have a digital nomad visa?

No dedicated digital nomad visa was listed for Netherlands as of 2026-07. Visitors from the US can stay 90 days visa-free.

### How fast is the internet in Deventer?

Measured median download speed in Deventer was 101.1 Mbps (upload 74.7 Mbps) across 3,385 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Deventer?

Yes. Starlink's availability map lists residential service as available in Netherlands (checked 2026-10), so a dish can serve as a backup line in Deventer. Check the exact address on starlink.com before ordering, since capacity varies by area.

### Which airports serve Deventer and how many nonstop flights are there?

Deventer is served by Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) with 289 nonstop destinations, of which 288 are international. 22 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-11.

### When is the best time of year to be in Deventer?

The most comfortable months are Jun, Jul, Aug. Mean temperatures range from 36°F (2°C) in Jan to 65°F (18°C) in Jul (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Deventer or Zwolle: which is better for digital nomads?

Zwolle is the city with the closest factor profile to Deventer in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Deventer](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=deventer&destination=Deventer%2C+Netherlands) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, dataUNODC. UNODC data, free to reuse with attribution. https://data.unodc.org/datareport/hom-victim (retrieved 2026-10-12)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years) (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Digital Nomad Visas 2026, WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04), Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis. CC BY 4.0. https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/surface-pm2-5/ (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), United Nations Development Programme. CC BY 3.0 IGO. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/documentation-and-downloads (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/deventer