The European XFEL is getting ready to welcome first users later this year. This talk summarizes the scientific motivations and the main features of the new source and the accompanying instrumentation. The 17.5 GeV superconducting linac is presently commissioning with beam. It shall deliver up to 27, 000 ultrashort electron bunches per second to 3 different undulators (later to be upgraded to 5). The aim for full operation is to operate 3 experiments in parallel and to maximise scientific output by optimised X-ray optics, optical lasers, diagnostics, detectors and data acquisition. First lasing is expected in spring or summer this year, and first users in the fall.