A2 or B1 Dutch: which level do you need for inburgering, nationality or study?

A2 for Dutch nationality, B1 for inburgering under the 2021 law, A2 for Belgian nationality, B2 for a Dutch university: which level each goal asks, what the levels really mean, and how to find out where you stand.

Updated November 3, 2026 · 5 min read

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Canal houses along the Singel in Amsterdam — Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.

"What level do I need?" has a different answer for every goal — and two of them are on the move, with plans to raise nationality to B1 in both the Netherlands and Belgium. This guide puts the official answers side by side, as of 3 November 2026, each with its source. The levels are those of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

Which level for which goal

Goal	Level	Exam or proof	Source
Inburgering, B1 route (2021 Act)	B1	Staatsexamen NT2 programme I, plus KNM, MAP and PVT	inburgeren.nl
Inburgering, education route	B1 (or B2)	Staatsexamen NT2, as your PIP says	Staatsexamens NT2
Inburgering, Z route	A1	no compulsory language exam; A2 exams optional	inburgeren.nl
Inburgering, 2013 Act	A2 or higher	DUO's A2 exams (or NT2), plus KNM and ONA	inburgeren.nl
Dutch nationality	A2 (B1 planned, not law)	the civic integration exam at A2 or higher — "the naturalisation test" — or an NT2 diploma	IND
Belgian nationality	A2 (B1 announced, not law)	e.g. the Flemish A2 Dutch test, a diploma, an integration course	FPS Justice
Flemish integration pathway	A2 (sometimes oral B1 within 24 months)	Dutch lessons or an exemption test	integratie-inburgering.be
MBO study or work	B1	NT2 programme I	Staatsexamens NT2
HBO, university, Dutch-speaking employer	B2	NT2 programme II — check the school's own rules	Staatsexamens NT2

Planned, not law. The Dutch government plans B1 for naturalisation and a longer residence period (2027 budget); Belgium's federal coalition has announced B1 and a citizenship test. As of 3 November 2026 the IND still asks A2 and the Belgian Nationality Code still says A2. If you are close to applying, A2 is what counts today.

What A2 and B1 actually mean

The CEFR describes each level in one paragraph. In plain words (Council of Europe, global scale):

	A2	B1
Understanding	sentences and common expressions about things close to you: family, shopping, your area, work	the main points of clear, standard speech or text on familiar things — work, school, free time
Speaking	simple, routine exchanges about familiar things	most situations while travelling or living here; you can describe experiences, plans and give reasons
Writing	short, simple notes and messages	simple connected text on familiar topics: experiences, plans, reasons
In practice	you get by; people adapt to you	you manage; you adapt to them

The jump from A2 to B1 is mostly connected speech: giving reasons (omdat, want), contrasts (maar, toch), results (daarom) and talking about the past and the future. Grammar-wise that means the perfect with the right auxiliary — ik heb gewerkt, ik ben verhuisd (werken, verhuizen) — and the modal verbs: kunnen, moeten, willen, mogen, zullen.

Ik woon in Utrecht en ik werk in een ziekenhuis.

Literally: I live in Utrecht and I work in a hospital.

Meaning: A typical A2 answer: correct, short, two facts. wonen, werken.

Ik ben twee jaar geleden naar Utrecht verhuisd, omdat ik daar werk vond. Eerst vond ik de stad druk, maar nu voel ik me er thuis.

Literally: I moved to Utrecht two years ago because I found work there. At first I found the city busy, but now I feel at home there.

Meaning: A typical B1 answer: past tense, a reason, a contrast, a change. verhuizen (with zijn), vinden, voelen.

If B1 is out of reach

On the 2021 Act's B1 route, if you have followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and still cannot pass B1, talk to your municipality about scaling down to A2 (inburgeren.nl). Exemptions for illness or disability, and for a Dutch-taught diploma, are in our exemptions guide.

Where do you stand?

Take our [free level test](/level-test/dutch) — 24 questions, A1 to B2, no sign-up. It is not a certificate, but it tells you which goal is realistic now.
Try the official practice exams: DUO's A2 exams for every part and the NT2 practice environment for B1/B2.
Check the parts one by one — reading, listening, writing, speaking. Your level can differ from one skill to another — and each part is a separate exam.
Make a plan — our 12-week plan assumes a solid A2 start.

From A2 to B1, 16 words at a time

16Word's Dutch tracks climb from A1 to B2: words, sentences, dialogues and 100 everyday situations, with a game of Blocks between answers. Free to start.

Keep learning

All our Dutch exam guides

Frequently asked questions

What Dutch level do I need for Dutch citizenship?

A2. The IND asks you to pass the civic integration exam at A2 or higher, or to show an accepted equivalent such as an NT2 diploma. A move to B1 is planned but not law as of 3 November 2026.

What level is the inburgering exam under the 2021 law?

B1 on the B1 route and the education route (the Staatsexamen NT2). The Z route aims at A1 with no compulsory language exam.

What Dutch level do I need for Belgian citizenship?

A2 in Dutch, French or German, under the Belgian Nationality Code. A B1 requirement has been announced but is not law as of 3 November 2026.

What is the difference between A2 and B1?

At A2 you handle simple, routine exchanges about familiar things. At B1 you can follow the main points of clear speech on familiar topics, describe experiences and plans, and give reasons — connected Dutch rather than single sentences.

Can my inburgering level be lowered from B1 to A2?

On the B1 route, after at least 600 hours of language lessons without passing B1, you can talk to your municipality about scaling down to A2.

Which level do Dutch universities ask?

Usually B2 (NT2 programme II), but every school sets its own admission requirements — check with the one you want.