Learning Dutch
To get a good start in the Netherlands, it is important to speak Dutch. Even if you study or work at an English-speaking school, it can be useful to understand or speak some Dutch. Below is an overview of online courses we recommend.
Free online courses
RUG
Especially for international students coming to the Netherlands, the University of Groningen has developed a MOOC. This is a three-week online beginners' course in Dutch, which you spend about three hours a week on. The course has several starting dates per year and can be followed from anywhere in the world.
Free Introduction to Dutch | Develop yourself | Language Centre | University of Groningen
Stichting Taalmenu
The Taalmenu website offers free exercises for Dutch as a second language at various levels. The exercises focus on the civic integration exam. This means that the beginners level still focuses on speaking skills, but the higher levels focus mainly on what will be tested in the exam: reading, writing and grammar.
Beginner level:
Beginner level | Learn Dutch A1
All levels:
All levels | Learn Dutch with NT2TaalMenu
Paid online courses
Babel and UvA languages are well-regarded commercial organisations offering language courses. Both organisations offer e-learning programmes that can be completed independently, online programmes with an instructor and on-site programmes.
Babel
Babel is based in Utrecht. Training prices start at 195 euros for a 12-week e-learning programme.
Babel Language Courses | Broaden your horizons
UvA Talen
UvA Talen is based in Amsterdam. Training prices start at 175 euros for an e-learning of 11 lessons.
Language courses for everyone | UvA Talen