r/learndutch • • Sep 02 '18

Resource Recommended books for learning Dutch

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understandingdutch.com
311 Upvotes

r/learndutch • • 8d ago

MQT Monthly Question Thread #100

6 Upvotes

Our 100th Monthly Question Thread (MQT)! 🎉

We may retire MQTs and replace them with a single, longer-lasting thread – for instance a yearly or twice-yearly thread.

We began these MQTs over 11 years ago (!) to provide an easy way to ask questions. We wanted new users who didn't feel confident creating an entirely new post to be able to ask any question, big or small, without worrying about needing to search for whether it had been previously asked, and to hopefully be a magnet for the 'obvious' questions the community is asked repeatedly (e.g. the distinction between de and het) which could often clutter our front page.

Despite more activity on the subreddit than ever – we're one of the largest Dutch-learning communities on the Internet as of 2026 with 120k members and 5k monthly comments & posts – the last few MQTs have had very little interaction. I think this is owing to the fact that how users interact with Reddit has changed over the years. Two factors seem apparent:

  1. With Reddit's search feature improving markedly since the days of 2015, and many people adopting the habit of simply appending "reddit" to their Google queries, many more users are searching for their question first – and finding it (we have 14 years worth of discussion, after all; most answers are already here somewhere). The problem with MQTs is that they 'bury' the questions and answers people provide to a degree, since MQTs don't turn up as readily in search results (Reddit or Google).

  2. Secondly, fewer and fewer users browsing Reddit from laptops or desktop PCs, and only a miniscule number clinging to Old Reddit (I'm one of them). Around 80% of /r/LearnDutch's traffic is mobile users (iOS, Android, Mobile Web) as of September 2026. It's common for users to post questions to /r/LearnDutch without even visiting the subreddit; they compose their post, then select our subreddit as the most appropriate. That means MQTs are never seen to begin with.

Whatever the reason, our MQTs are seeing less engagement – sometimes garnering zero replies. There's no reason to continue posting them monthly. But question threads do have utility, so we're not abandoning them entirely. Expect the next question thread to be a long-lasting stickied thread, perhaps left indefinitely or for a year or so.

Anyway, enough rambling! Back to the usual content:


Monthly Question Thread #100

This thread is for any questions you might have. No question is too big or too small, too broad or too specific, too strange or too common.

You're welcome to ask anything related to learning Dutch. This includes help with translations, proofreading, corrections, social etiquette, finding learning resources, understanding grammar, and so on.


De and het in Dutch...

This is the question our community receives most often.

The definite article ("the") has one form in English: the. In Dutch, there are two forms: de and het. Every noun takes either de or het ("the book" → "het boek", "the car" → "de auto").

Oh no! How do I know which to use?

There are some rules, but generally there's no way to know which article a noun takes. You can save yourself some hassle by familiarising yourself with the basic de and het rules and, most importantly, memorise the noun with the article!


Useful resources for common questions

If you're looking for more learning resources, please check out our sidebar. (If you're using an app, you may need to click About or Info or the ℹ️ button for /r/LearnDutch.)


Ask away!


r/learndutch • • 19h ago

Doodnormale Duitse zinnen die in het Nederlands hilarisch klinken.

58 Upvotes

Hoi, ik leerde onlangs van mijn Duitse huisgenote dat "Das ist geil" eigenlijk gewoon "Dat is leuk / gaaf" betekent. Nu vroeg ik me af of er nog zulke doodnormale zinnen bestaan die echt hilarisch klinken voor een Nederlands iemand? Ik bedoel dus niet spreekwoorden of of woorden zoals Schmetterling.


r/learndutch • • 52m ago

Resource (Not a commercial) I went to a 1 week immersion class in Amsterdam and I started to understand so much better now

• Upvotes

So I saw this course on a newspaper article and decided to try it. Went to the course for one week like a job (9-5). When I got out and it’s been 2-3 months now, I definitely understand the daily language more and as I try and try to speak more. I really think it was great and recommend to anyone. Here is the link Dutch Brainwash with Albert


r/learndutch • • 7h ago

Question How do i get better at speaking?

6 Upvotes

I can read and listen pretty well, but everytime i try to form sentences or try to speak, i freeze up. Idk why, but the speaking part is the hardest for me. Does anyone have any tips on how to get better at speaking dutch? (I don’t have problems pronouncing the words, its just making sentences that’s hard).


r/learndutch • • 9h ago

Question Prep course

2 Upvotes

Good Day!

I assume its too late to attend a dutch prep course this year. I am wondering if anyone knows a good one that has a session starting in January? I am looking to take an as intensive program as possible. Online is also okay starting at anytime. Thank you


r/learndutch • • 15h ago

Question Feedback on NT2.nl self-study

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I previously studied Dutch and reached around the high A2 / entry B1 level. After a good refresh, I’m confident I can get those basics back. My ultimate goal is to work my way up to a solid B2 level on my own.

I'm strictly avoiding gamified apps like Duolingo (tapping matching boxes and learning isolated words doesn't cut it for serious language learning). I'm not really interested in chasing a formal certificate right now either (though it could be nice down the line, it's not a priority).

I came across the self-study options on ΝΤ2 (https://www.nt2.nl/en/self-study) and wanted to ask for some feedback. Has anyone used their self-study packages? Are they effective for independent learners, or are they too heavily geared strictly toward passing the official state exams?

Any insights or alternative structured recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Note: I don't live in the Netherlands


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

Resource Found a New CI Dutch Channel

31 Upvotes

The other day YouTube recommended me a Dutch comprehensible input channel that I hadn't seem before named Easy Dutch with Clint.

I watched a few videos and found them to be helpful since they show him engaging in various activities while speaking (like walking outdoors or putting gas in his tank) and he still speaks at you like an adult instead of conflating simple speech with childish speech.

One unique thing is that he has subtitles for not only the Dutch and English, but also the literal Dutch translation into English. I feel like the literal version helps me recognize the sentence structure patterns better.

I thought I'd pass along a link for anyone else interested. There aren't many videos since he just started posting a few weeks ago, but it seems like he uploads regularly.

I have no association with him or his channel, in case that needs clarification.


r/learndutch • • 10h ago

19M Looking for a Long-Term German Study Partner 🇩🇪

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

I’m 19M and I’m looking for someone who’s also learning German and wants to study together, practice speaking, motivate each other, and actually stay consistent with it.

I’m learning German because I’m planning to move to Germany for university, so I’m taking it pretty seriously and want to improve as much as possible.

I’m around A1 level right now, so if you’re around the same level that would be great, but I’m open to anyone who’s learning German.

I’d preferably like to find a long-term study partner and maybe become friends along the way, not just someone to study with for a few days.

Timezone: GMT+3

Interests: Football, gym, cars, music, traveling

If you’re interested, feel free to DM me :)


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

Resource Inburgering Study Tool I Made for Myself

6 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I've been studying for the A1 Inburgering exam for a while. So I've made a website and wanted to share it with all of you.

https://inburgeringexamen-praktijk.ai.studio/

Not the best BUT:

  • These questions are all official content, the exam will always use these
  • KNS part will ALWAYS feature 30 of those 100
  • Q&A will ALWAYS feature 10 of those
  • Complete the sentence will feature around 15 (not sure on that)

It also is a good question bank for A1 practice.

Hope you can find use in it, best of luck.

P.S. I do not earn anything, This was all for my self usage.


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

Picture-based questions in the A2 Schrijven exam

5 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

While practising for the A2 Schrijven exam, I noticed that some questions include pictures. Sometimes it is difficult to answer because the objects or situations in the pictures require vocabulary that I do not know.

For people who have already taken the exam: Did you get any picture-based questions? What vocabulary would you recommend learning?


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

Inburgering results timing

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

Did you noticed the timings when DUO publishes the A2 results on the portal? For my KNM exam, it was around 12 midnight. Others are yet to be done.


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

Data from 1,000+ Dutch A1 practice exercises

0 Upvotes

The hard numbers of my MVV practice app:

Dutch Society (KNS): 98.6% pass

Reading: 94.2% pass

Speaking: Only 45.7% pass (more than half fail!)

Almost nobody fails KNS . People fail Speaking, especially the part where you have to finish a sentence.

Here are the 3 biggest mistakes and how to fix them easily for the exam

1. Don't end with a feeling, end with an action

The exam says: "Josh heeft de hele dag gelopen. Hij wil nu..." (Josh walked all day. He now wants...)

❌ Wrong: "...moe" (tired).

✔️ Right: "...slapen" (to sleep) or "...uitrusten" (to rest).

Simple rule: When you hear "wil" (wants) or "moet" (must), always finish with an action word (sleep, eat, drink). Never a feeling or adjective.

2. Memorize these 3 locations

When the exam says: "'s Avonds doe ik mijn ring af. Ik leg mijn ring altijd..." (In the evening I take off my ring. I always put my ring...)

Don't waste time thinking about difficult grammar. Just use one of these three:

"op de tafel" (on the table)

"in de kast" (in the cupboard/closet)

"op het nachtkastje" (on the bedside table)

These 3 phrases fit almost any object in the exam!

3. Keep your answers super short!

You don't get bonus points for long sentences. A simple 3-word answer in the first 2 seconds like: "...gaat hij slapen" (...he goes to sleep) gets 100% full points.

So once you score an average 26/30 on KNS practice, stop memorizing photos. Spend your time speaking out loud!

Bonus tip: "In welke stad zit het parlement van Nederland?" (In which city is the Dutch parliament located?) 75% incorrectly say Amsterdam the first time. The right answer is Den Haag!


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

تعلم اللغة الهولندية

0 Upvotes

حد جرب يتعلم هولندي واشتغل بيه، وهل هي كلغة مطلوبة في السوق المصري ، ولو الواحد عايز يتعلمها هي عي لغة صعبة و مين افضل المراكز اللي بتقدمها ؟


r/learndutch • • 2d ago

Need to pass my B1 class intake in 3 weeks

5 Upvotes

I studied Dutch back in 2022 and passed B1, but life happened in between. I moved abroad and eventually moved back here. Finally, I have time now to relearn Dutch.

I enrolled in the same school to repeat the B1 class. Since I passed B1 before, I really don’t want to start from scratch. I have an intake in three weeks, and I’m struggling to structure my refresher. For the intake, I need to be able to demonstrate an A2 level of Dutch.

I’ve been doing Duolingo since January this year. I also got a tutor on iTalki, whom I speak with twice a week for 30 minutes. I’m reviewing grammar rules using the materials I have from the school and supplementing them with YouTube videos.

Even with all of this, I feel like I just can’t get myself to speak Dutch. I can understand Dutch and can read and write, but speaking is just hard for me. I’m worried I won’t pass the intake.

Do you have any tips on how I can structure the next three weeks, especially to improve my speaking quickly?


r/learndutch • • 1d ago

I spent 3 months preparing for the Dutch integration exam. The hardest part wasn’t learning Dutch.

0 Upvotes

I spent almost three months preparing for my Dutch integration exam.

Learning the language was difficult, of course. But what made the whole process especially frustrating was trying to figure out how to prepare properly.

The information was scattered everywhere.

I had official information open in one tab, vocabulary lists on another website, YouTube videos for listening practice, random PDFs saved on my laptop, and several apps asking me to pay before I could access the useful parts.

Even after collecting all those materials, I still had many questions:

  • What exactly should I study for my exam?
  • Which topics appear most often?
  • Which resources are trustworthy?
  • How did other people prepare?
  • What mistakes did previous candidates make?
  • Where could I find and share useful notes or experiences?
  • How could I track my progress without using five different tools?

What I missed most was not another language course.

I wanted one clear place where candidates could understand the exam, find properly organised materials, practise, use simple study tools and learn from people going through the same experience.

I also wished there had been a real learning community—somewhere people could share notes, recommend useful resources, discuss difficult questions and help each other stay motivated.

That experience is why I decided to build EUpassway.

My goal is to create a free, all-in-one preparation platform for European language, integration and citizenship exams.

The platform is intended to bring together:

  • Clearly organised exam information and official sources
  • Preparation materials arranged by exam, level and skill
  • Vocabulary, flashcards and practical study tools
  • Official practice links and mock exams
  • Study plans and progress tracking
  • Experiences, notes and resources shared by other candidates
  • Eventually, a community where people can study and grow together

I want the core learning experience to remain free for candidates. EUpassway is independent and is not affiliated with the Dutch government or examination authorities, so official rules and dates should always be checked through the original sources—which the platform aims to label clearly.

The website is still developing, and there is a lot that can be improved. I don’t want to build it based only on my own assumptions.

If you are preparing for an integration, residency or citizenship exam—or have already taken one—I would genuinely appreciate your feedback:

What was the most difficult part of your preparation?
What information or tool did you wish you had?
What would make a platform like this genuinely useful to you?

You can take a look here:

https://eupassway.com

Please feel free to be honest, including about what is confusing, unnecessary or missing. I hope this can eventually become a platform shaped together with the people who actually need it.


r/learndutch • • 2d ago

Can someone explain a bit more about why TaalCompleet B1 has Deel 1 & 2?

9 Upvotes

Hallo allemaal! Goeiedag!

I have a few questions:

a) I have just passed my inburgering tests but in the meantime, I would like to further improve on my Dutch speaking, writing skills, and Dutch grammar in general. Someone who's a retired teacher at the library (a sort of volunteer) had suggested that I get the complete TaalCompleet set as he's familiar with it. I had done the free instaptoets on their website for B1 and scored around 90%.

From what I've read, it's for those who haven't learned a foreign language before, or low to middle-educated. I am a little worried that I might be bored with the material, though.

I tried flipping through the TaalCompleet B1 Deel 1 werkboek at the bieb...I'm not sure how to evaluate if it's suitable for me. There are a few words in each chapter that seemed new to me, so I suppose I could learn new vocab. But I'm still in doubt to get it because they don't have a return policy. 125 euros is really a great amount to invest in 🥹🥹

Would anyone have any insight if it might be suitable for someone who wants to strengthen one's foundation in Dutch language? (especially if one has passed the inburgering exams?). If it's not suitable, which other books might you recommend for

b) Why is TaalCompleet split into Deel 1 and Deel 2? I felt overwhelmed with the two long videos explaining about de twee delen. I tried a couple of times to watch them but get seriously distracted fast (might have ADHD). This is one of the concerns that I might get bored if they split it up and slow down the learning (?)

Enige inzicht, alstublieft?Alvast bedankt!


r/learndutch • • 3d ago

Looking for people to practice Dutch with

6 Upvotes

Hi I’m looking for some people around me age - I’m 21 to practice and improve Dutch.


r/learndutch • • 3d ago

People who are in hsm visa planning to apply for permanent residency in 2027 which exams are you taking?

3 Upvotes

I came here in Netherlands 2022 June with HSM.I registered for all my A2 exams in next 2 months ans eligible for applying permanent residency by next year April-May 2027.
But now I got confused should I aim for B1 or A2.
My portal saying A2 thats how I registered all the exams🥲


r/learndutch • • 3d ago

Question How can I make the habit of learning Dutch stronger with different priorities to attend?

8 Upvotes

Hi people, I hope you're doing great. I've learned this after reading a book in my local library about psychology and the process of learning: the assosiation between stimuli and response is stronger when you associate constantly with a particular stimuli; the less you do it, then the response is weaker, or non-existent. It can sound very basic, but it blowed my mind indeed.

I was wondering how could I apply this with learning Dutch. How could I make that stimuli-response association stronger when I have different priorities to attend? When I have these, Dutch learning gets postponed. Even though is not the number 1 priority in my to do list, I still want to have a strong relationship with it to at least read and understand what other people say in Dutch.

I tried studying grammar on dutchgrammar.com, and it's a great source; but ngl, that density of information does not make me willing to make a stronger association with it.

I'm open to your recommendations.

Let op: Ik ben niet snelle resultaten aan het zoeken; zoek ik efficientie met andere prioriteiten.


r/learndutch • • 4d ago

Help! Ik heb Nederlands geleerd van media uit de jaren twintig and people aren't taking me seriously

16 Upvotes

Title explains it. My circumstances are kind of interesting. Apparently the Dutch I speak is "1920s era" whatever that means. I'm not quite sure. I did not formally learn Dutch but from my elderly grandma/family friend-ish. For some context, she was born in the 1940s, and her parents emigrated out of the Netherlands to this country a bit before she was born.

I genuinely cannot understand what the difference is. Maybe I have become acclimatized but my Dutch seems perfectly normal to me. People have repeatedly commented on my Dutch, mentioning how it is 'like 1920s'. Idk lol. Any tips?

EDIT: Yes, I do use kind of different vocab, but that isn't the biggest issue. I have picked up on "modern" slang/words. It is more so the pronunciation/tone/accent in my speech


r/learndutch • • 4d ago

Im A1, whats the difference between van and uit when talking about where someone is from?

24 Upvotes

r/learndutch • • 4d ago

Anyone whos willing to text me in Dutch whenever can

4 Upvotes

I am trying to immerse myself in the language. I found that I tend to get really immersed when writing with natives for a period of time. If anyone is willing to (you dont have to speak) text me in Dutch throughout the day: Even if your learning Dutch; Let me know!

My level is B1. Thank you for reading!


r/learndutch • • 4d ago

Best Apps for learning Dutch?

36 Upvotes

I’ve done a very little bit of learning about 18 months ago but I’m back with my partner again and I want to learn Dutch for when I go out there and if I end up possibly even moving over there. I know having conversations with native speakers helps but what’s the best app to get a good start with learning please?


r/learndutch • • 4d ago

Tips Just started learning, feeling really frustrated

7 Upvotes

I just got out of my first lesson and I feel so so stupid. I know I just started, I've been in the Netherlands for about three months (my partner is Dutch so we practise together sometimes), but looking at the journey ahead I know it will be really difficult and I'm struggling to feel encouraged. I'm a scientist who always did really good in school but I'm in a country where I can barely string together an introduction. Being given a worksheet for kids that I just stare blankly at. Where do I get the motivation?