Frequently asked questions

Yes. Which exam you take depends on your situation. If you integrate under the Civic Integration Act 2021 (obliged to integrate since 1 January 2022), B1 is the standard: the language exams are the State Exam NT2 I, plus the KNM exam. The B1 course is designed for that. You practise the civic integration exam at A2 level (for the old act, naturalisation or permanent residence) in the A2 course. Not sure? Use Which exam do I need?.

The A1 course prepares you for the Civic Integration Examination Abroad. You usually need that exam for an MVV if you want to live with your partner in the Netherlands. You practise the parts Reading, Speaking and Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS) at level A1. You take the exam itself at a Dutch embassy or consulate, and the IND decides on the MVV. We do not give immigration advice. To see whether you need the exam, use Which exam do I need?.

No. You do not take the official exams at home, but on a computer at an exam location. You take the State Exam NT2 at one of DUO's six locations: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Utrecht or Zwolle. You take the civic integration exams (such as KNM and the A2 language exams) at DUO. You take the exam abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate. Does someone offer an online exam or a diploma without an exam at DUO? Do not trust it. You can practise online for free: see free practice exams. TaalPro's lessons are online; the exam is not.

In the group courses (A1 to B2) you practise all parts of your exam, such as Reading, Listening, Writing and Speaking, and you get feedback from your teacher. Want fully personal training, for example focused on one part or on your exam date? Then choose private lessons: available at every level. Nobody can guarantee that you pass; we do make a plan together that fits your exam.

You take the Civic Integration Examination Abroad at a Dutch embassy, before applying for an MVV to live with your partner in the Netherlands. It has three parts, all at level A1: Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNS), Reading and Speaking. Everything is done on a computer; there is no writing. Read more in the guide Exam abroad.

They are two different exams. KNS (Knowledge of Dutch Society, exam abroad) is part of the exam at the embassy: all questions and answers are in the free photo book on naarnederland.nl. KNM (Knowledge of Dutch Society, in the Netherlands) is taken at DUO as part of civic integration: 40 questions on 8 themes such as work, housing and healthcare. You can practise with our free KNM practice quiz.

Not yet. For naturalisation, the current requirement is level A2: the civic integration exam A2, or a State Exam NT2 I or II diploma. The government wants to raise the requirement to B1, but this has not been introduced yet and there is no date. Aiming for B1 now does set you up well for the future.

Two parts of civic integration that you do at your municipality, besides your language exams. In the PVT you learn about the core values of the Netherlands and sign the participation statement. In the MAP you prepare for work and taking part in society. Under the 2021 act both are free and must be finished within your civic integration period. Read who they apply to and what happens if you are late in the guide MAP and the participation statement.

The government offers free practice exams, without logging in: for the civic integration exam A2 and KNM on inburgeren.nl, for the State Exam NT2 on oefenexamensnt2.nl and for the exam abroad on naarnederland.nl. All links and tips are in the guide Free practice exams. Want to know where you stand first? Take the free level test.

For Mijn Inburgering you need DigiD, with SMS verification or the DigiD app. You apply on digid.nl if you have a BSN and are registered with a municipality. You are not obliged to use DigiD: for the State Exam NT2 you can also register with a DUO form. Never give your login details to anyone else, not even to us. Want someone to help you? Use DigiD Machtigen (authorisation), or for Mijn Inburgering the Machtiging form from inburgeren.nl. Step by step in the guide Applying for DigiD and using it safely.

Program I (B1) is intended for work and MBO (vocational) education. You need Program II (B2) for HBO, university or high-level work.

VMBO/MAVO/TL: about CEFR level B1
This level covers the basic language skills needed for everyday communication and functional language use at work and in life. At TaalPro we make sure you can put these skills into practice.

HAVO: about CEFR level B2
This level, equal to the HAVO final exam, is required for a higher level of communication and understanding. It allows you to study independently at an HBO institution and to communicate adequately in complex situations.

VWO: about CEFR level C1
This academic level is comparable to the VWO final exam: you communicate fluently, precisely and at a high level of abstraction and understand academic texts.

Note: if you want to start at an HBO institution or university with a foreign diploma, you usually need the State Exam NT2 II (B2). The institution sets its own requirement. See the guide Studying in Dutch.

The colloquium doctum is a statutory entrance examination for people aged 21 and over who do not have the diploma required for admission to higher education. With this alternative route they can still be admitted to HBO or university programmes after successfully completing specific tests.

With a foreign diploma, HBO institutions and universities usually ask for the State Exam NT2 Program II (B2). The institution sets its own requirement; some programmes ask for more, and professions such as doctor require a higher level. So always check the website of your programme. The B2 course prepares you for NT2 II; if you want to go further, you can continue with private lessons at C1 level.

These terms are often used interchangeably. Both are entrance exams for students aged 21 and over without the required prior diploma, and both offer an alternative route into higher education.

Yes, for certain programmes such as medicine, dentistry and technical studies, science subjects are required in addition to language skills. These subjects must be mastered at VWO level.

Yes, many bachelor programmes at universities of applied sciences and universities are taught entirely in Dutch. There are also English-taught programmes, especially at master level.

Besides Dutch, some programmes also have requirements for your English, for example a TOEFL or IELTS certificate.

No. You can take Program II (B2) directly if you have that level. The exam is open to everyone aged 17 or over whose native language is not Dutch. Unsure about your level? Take the free level test first.

Yes. The online level test and the intake interview are free and you are not committed to anything. You only pay if you decide to take a course.

No. You pay for the official exam to DUO, not to TaalPro. The State Exam NT2 costs €50 per part (€200 for all four), the civic integration exam €50 per part and the exam abroad €150. See all costs at a glance.

No, not yet. A DUO loan can only be used for courses at schools with the Blik op Werk quality mark, and TaalPro does not (yet) have that mark. With us you pay a fixed monthly amount. You can use a DUO loan for the exam fees.

Under the Civic Integration Act 2021 your municipality chooses and pays for the language school for your civic integration. So you cannot choose TaalPro yourself and send the bill to the municipality. If you want extra practice next to your civic integration course, for example for the State Exam NT2 or for speaking, you can do that at TaalPro at your own cost. If you fall under the old act (before 2022), you choose the school yourself. Note: a DUO loan can only be used at a school with the Blik op Werk quality mark, and TaalPro does not (yet) have that mark. More on who pays what: Costs and funding.

Take the free online level test: within 10 minutes you see your level and which course suits you. In the free intake interview we then determine your final starting level and goals together.

At TaalPro you learn Dutch, and the lessons are in Dutch. Explanations are also possible in Farsi, Dari or English. That way you understand difficult grammar faster, especially at the start.

Everyone can take part in our courses, even if you have little or no formal educational background. We provide extra support so you can learn effectively.

Group lessons are available for levels A1 to B2 and are ideal for interaction and learning together. Private lessons are possible at every level, from A1 to C2, fully adapted to your goals and pace. From C1, all lessons are private. We discuss the price of private lessons at A1 to B2 in the free intake.

The test gives a good first indication based on grammar, vocabulary and reading. Speaking and writing cannot be tested fairly online; a teacher assesses them in the free intake, where you determine your final starting level together.

No. The level test helps you choose the right course. You only get an official diploma after an official exam, such as the civic integration exam or the State Exam NT2. Those exams are administered by the Dutch government, not by TaalPro.