There is no single correct way to learn Dutch. Your route may be self-study, a private teacher, a language school, community practice, a formal NT2 course, or a combination. Learning Dutch, inburgering and the Staatsexamen NT2 are related but not identical.

Choose the route for your goal

  • Daily life: practical classes, self-study, conversation practice, taalcafés and a taalmaatje can be enough to make rapid everyday progress.
  • Work: combine general Dutch with profession-specific vocabulary and workplace communication.
  • Study: check the institution’s exact language requirement; a recognised NT2 diploma may be relevant.
  • Inburgering/naturalisation: follow the official rules that apply to your personal situation rather than assuming any language certificate automatically satisfies them.

Inburgeringsexamen: check what applies to you

If you have an integration obligation (inburgeringsplicht) or need an integration result for another official process, do not assume that an ordinary Dutch course is enough. The required route and exams depend on your situation. DUO’s official Inburgeren.nl portal explains the current rules and Mijn Inburgering shows the exams that apply to you.

The integration examination can include Dutch language examinations and knowledge components. DUO currently offers language examinations at A2, B1 and B2; B1 and B2 language exams are the Staatsexamen Nederlands als tweede taal (Nt2). Use the official portal for the current exam package, registration, practice exams and personal requirements.

Staatsexamen NT2

DUO administers the national Dutch-as-a-second-language examination for adults. Programma I is B1 and is aimed at people who want to work or study around MBO-3/MBO-4 level. Programma II is B2 and is aimed at work or study at HBO/university level. Both test reading, listening, speaking and writing.

Low-cost and informal options

Look for taalcafé, Taalhuis, language buddies and library/community programmes in your municipality. These can be excellent for practice, but they are not necessarily substitutes for an accredited course or examination when you need a formal qualification.

Already have Dutch?

Do not automatically start at A1. Ask for a placement assessment and choose training around your weakest skills. Someone who speaks fluently may still need substantial work on writing, grammar or professional Dutch.

Continue in Language & Culture

Our dedicated Learn Dutch resource hub covers language schools, teachers, books, podcasts, YouTube and self-study resources. Education pages explain the formal routes; Language & Culture helps you actually build the language.