Learn Dutch for free: official practice exams, libraries and free guides
Learn Dutch for free: DUO’s practice exams, the Staatsexamen NT2 practice environment, netinnederland.nl, oefenen.nl, the library — plus free grammar guides, verb tables and a phrasebook with recordings.
Updated · 2 min read
You can go a long way in Dutch without paying anything. The best free material is official — made by the people who write the exams — and the rest is about using it well.
Free and official
| Resource | What it is | For |
|---|---|---|
| DUO’s A2 practice exams | writing, speaking, listening, reading and KNM practice exams | A2, the naturalisation test |
| Staatsexamen NT2 practice environment | official practice tasks for B1 and B2 (computer only) | the B1 route, study, work |
| netinnederland.nl | videos on exam subjects (recommended by DUO) | listening, KNM |
| oefenen.nl | free lessons (recommended by DUO) | basic skills |
| your public library | courses, language cafés, help (DUO points there) | speaking, support |
Sources: inburgeren.nl and Staatsexamens NT2. In Flanders the Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering has free reading and listening practice tests too — see inburgering in Flanders.
Free on 16Word
- Dutch grammar: 14 guides in reading order — from pronunciation to separable verbs.
- 212 verb tables, each with a recording: zijn, hebben, gaan, komen, werken.
- The phrasebook: hello, thank you, please, numbers.
- A free level test, A1 to B2, no sign-up.
- The inburgering guides: every exam part explained, with official facts.
- The app itself is free to start: the first page of every track.
Free conversation
Language cafés in libraries and community centres, volunteer language buddies, colleagues and neighbours who are happy to speak slowly. Ask Kunt u langzamer praten? — praten — and Wat betekent dat? (betekenen).
How to use free material well
- Test first, then aim: the level test, then the official practice exam of your level.
- Daily vocabulary (10 minutes), weekly grammar (one guide), daily listening (10 minutes).
- Write one short message a day — the writing exam guide has models.
- Speak out loud every day, even alone.
Free to start, every day
16Word’s free pages cover the first lesson of every track — words, sentences, dialogues, travel. Five minutes a day.
Keep learning
- How to learn Dutch online
- The best apps to learn Dutch
- All free Dutch resources
- The inburgering exams
- Dutch grammar
- Verb tables: kunnen, moeten, willen, mogen, zullen, worden, wonen, leren, lezen, schrijven, spreken
More guides like this
- How to learn Dutch online · The best apps to learn Dutch · How long it takes to learn Dutch
- Is Dutch hard to learn? · How many Dutch words do you need?
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn Dutch for free?
Yes, a lot of it: DUO's practice exams, the Staatsexamen NT2 practice environment, netinnederland.nl, oefenen.nl, libraries and free guides, verb tables and phrasebooks online.
Where can I find free inburgering practice exams?
On inburgeren.nl: DUO's A2 practice exams for writing, speaking, listening, reading and KNM. For B1 and B2, the Staatsexamen NT2 practice environment.
Are there free Dutch lessons?
Oefenen.nl has free lessons, and many public libraries run language cafés and courses. Asylum status holders under the 2021 Act have their course paid by the municipality.
Is 16Word free?
It is free to start: the first page of every track, the grammar guides, verb tables, phrasebook and level test are free. 16Word Plus opens everything.
Was this guide useful?
Official sources
Keep going
- Learn Dutch 16 words a day
- /resources/dutch
- How long does it take to learn Dutch? What the FSI and the law say
- Is Dutch hard to learn? The easy parts and the three hard ones
- How many Dutch words do you need — and which ones?
- How to learn Dutch online: apps, courses, teachers and free practice
- The best apps to learn Dutch: what to look for, and what no app does
- How to learn Luxembourgish online: free and paid options compared
- Is Luxembourgish hard to learn? An honest guide for beginners
- Which language should you learn first when moving to Luxembourg?
- All guides