The Dutch government wants everyone who lives in the Netherlands to be able to participate in Dutch society. This means knowing about Dutch culture, speaking the Dutch language and being able to work or study independently. People who move to the Netherlands permanently or for a longer period can take part in the civic integration (inburgering) process. Sometimes this is a requirement. This depends on the which citizenship the newcomer holds and other factors.
This guide covers some of the things you need to know to prepare for the inburgering exam, without paying for expensive courses.
What the inburgering exam actually tests
The exam has five components:
- Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) — Knowledge of Dutch society: government, health, education, and housing systems
- Leesvaardigheid — Reading comprehension at A2 level
- Luistervaardigheid — Listening comprehension
- Schrijfvaardigheid — Written Dutch (forms, short messages)
- Spreekvaardigheid — Speaking (recorded responses)
Most people find the speaking component the hardest because there is no human examiner — you respond to prompts recorded by a machine.
What level is required?
Which exams you need to take, depends on the act that applies to you: the 2013 civic integration act (‘Wet inburgering 2013’) or the 2021 civic integration act (‘Wet inburgering 2021’). If you don’t know which law applies, check Mijn Inburgering.
How to study without a course
You do not need to pay for a language school to pass. Here is what actually works:
1. Build your vocabulary by topic
The exam tests everyday vocabulary — healthcare, housing, work, transport, education. Study by theme rather than random word lists. Focus on:
- Healthcare vocabulary — appointments, symptoms, prescriptions
- Office and work vocabulary
- Transport and travel
2. Master the core grammar rules
You need to be comfortable with:
- De/het articles — there is no shortcut, you have to memorise them. Use our de/het quiz to drill them
- Verb conjugation in present and past tense — practise with the verb conjugation exam, the perfect tense quiz, and the simple past quiz
- Word order in main and subordinate clauses — read the sentence structure guide
- Negation — negation guide and negation quiz
3. Practise reading and listening
The reading component uses authentic-style texts about daily life in the Netherlands. The best preparation is reading simple Dutch every day:
- Dutch news sites aimed at learners (such as NOS Jeugdjournaal)
- The reading comprehension passages in our reading exam
For the listening component (luistervaardigheid), use our listening comprehension exam — it plays short Dutch sentences aloud and tests your understanding, similar to the real exam format.
4. Get used to speaking aloud
The speaking test catches many candidates off guard because they have studied by reading but never practised saying words out loud. Use the speech synthesis on every vocabulary page here to hear the Dutch pronunciation, then repeat it.
Our speaking exam can help you practice speaking Dutch for free without any limits.
5. Practice KNM
KNM topics can be practiced on oefenen.nl or npokennis.nl for free!
How long does it take to prepare?
It depends on your starting point:
| Starting level | Time to A2 | Time to B1 |
|---|---|---|
| No Dutch at all | 6–12 months | 12–18 months |
| Basic phrases | 3–6 months | 9–12 months |
| Conversational | 1–3 months | 4–8 months |
These assume consistent study of 30–60 minutes per day.
Where to sit the exam
If you’re required to complete the exam at the A2 level, you can register through inburgeren.nl, but if you’re required to complete the Staatsexamen Nt2 at the B1 level you have to register through DUO. The fee is currently €50 per attempt for each component of the exam. If you fail, you can resit individual components rather than the whole exam.
Start practising now
The most effective preparation is spaced repetition — a little every day is far better than cramming. Start with vocabulary and grammar, then add reading and listening practice once you have a foundation.
→ Start with A2 vocabulary topics → Take a practice grammar test → Practise verb conjugation
