Anybody wanna buy a train station?

The station dates back to 1885 and it replaced an even older one that was completed in 1847. Its Dutch neo-Renaissance features and photogenic exterior make it one of the most gorgeous buildings in Delft. As a result, it was classified as a national monument in 2002. While this means the station will be preserved for future generations to enjoy, this presents the NS and the city of Delft with a big problem.

What does one do with an elegant but outmoded train station that can’t legally be torn down? Following the opening of its successor in February of 2015, there were several speculations about the building’s future.

“We’re thinking very broadly,” an NS spokesperson told a reporter from the Algemeen Dagblad last autumn. “It could become a hotel or a separate restaurant but there is also enough space for private residences or offices.”

Despite its convenient location, the NS (which owns the station) is still trying to find a buyer nearly a year later. The building, meanwhile, has been surrounded by fences for several months and yellow For Sale signs written in Dutch began popping up in some of its windows a few weeks ago. The NS has turned to BOEi, a local non-profit organisation devoted to the restoration and reuse of historic buildings, for assistance. Together, they released a brochure for the station that includes information about its history and what a potential buyer can expect if they decide to snag it.

The station’s new owners can utilise tax breaks and state subsidies to help preserve it in the years to come. The brochure also notes what can and cannot be done with the building. Its historic designation would allow it to be converted into housing, a hotel, restaurants, offices, a cultural and entertainment hub or a combination thereof. The possibilities are endless but you might be wondering how much a 19th century train station sells for these days.

“There is currently no official listed price,” said Mark de Kok, a Senior Communications Director for the City of Delft. “But the best bidder will get it.”