Basic Dutch in 10 Days 2026
Learn basic Dutch in 10 days. This plan covers all 30 beginner lessons (CEFR A1) at 3 lessons a day, about 75 minutes daily. Each day you read the lessons, listen to the phrases and take that day's quiz. The final assessment draws 40 questions at random from the whole course; score 80% or more to download your certificate.
Quick answer
This free course has about 750 minutes of lessons, 10 untimed topic quizzes (300 questions in all) and a timed final assessment of 40 questions drawn at random. Score 80% or more on the final assessment to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026.
What you will learn
- Greet people, introduce yourself and choose between je and u
- Say and understand numbers, prices, dates and clock times
- Talk about your family, your home, your work and your free time in short sentences
- Order in a café, shop for food and clothes, and pay at the checkout
- Ask for directions, buy a train ticket and understand simple travel information
- Make an appointment and handle a short phone call
- Say what you did yesterday and what you plan to do
- Ask for help in an emergency
Score 80% or more to download your certificate.
Your study plan
Read each lesson, take its topic quiz (untimed, with explanations), then the timed final assessment. A new mix of questions is drawn every time. Your progress is saved in this browser.
- Read the lessons30 lessons, about 750 min
- Day 1: Sounds and letters, Hello and goodbye and About me20 questions
Lessons: Unit 1: Sounds and letters · Unit 2: Hello and goodbye · Unit 3: About me
- Day 2: Numbers 0–100, Days and dates and Telling the time20 questions
Lessons: Unit 4: Numbers 0–100 · Unit 5: Days and dates · Unit 6: Telling the time
- Day 3: Family, Describing people and Home20 questions
Lessons: Unit 7: Family · Unit 8: Describing people · Unit 9: Home
- Day 4: Food and drink, Shopping and prices and At a café20 questions
Lessons: Unit 10: Food and drink · Unit 11: Shopping and prices · Unit 12: At a café
- Day 5: In town, Getting around and Weather and seasons20 questions
Lessons: Unit 13: In town · Unit 14: Getting around · Unit 15: Weather and seasons
- Day 6: My day, Work and jobs and Free time20 questions
Lessons: Unit 16: My day · Unit 17: Work and jobs · Unit 18: Free time
- Day 7: Health, Clothes and colours and Phone and appointments20 questions
Lessons: Unit 19: Health · Unit 20: Clothes and colours · Unit 21: Phone and appointments
- Day 8: Asking questions, Yesterday and Plans20 questions
Lessons: Unit 22: Asking questions · Unit 23: Yesterday · Unit 24: Plans
- Day 9: Can you help me?, Services and Renting a home20 questions
Lessons: Unit 25: Can you help me? · Unit 26: Services · Unit 27: Renting a home
- Day 10: Emergencies, Small talk and Review20 questions
Lessons: Unit 28: Emergencies · Unit 29: Small talk · Unit 30: Review
- Final exam40 questions, 45 min · Score 80% or more
Day 1: Sounds and letters, Hello and goodbye and About me
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Question 1 of 30
Show answer
Answer: A. How do you spell that?
“Spellen” means “to spell” and “hoe” means “how”.
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Question 2 of 30
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Answer: B. W
In Dutch, W is called “way”. V is “vay” and J is “yay”.
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Question 3 of 30
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Answer: D. As a rough sound in the throat
Dutch g sounds like “ch” in Scottish “loch”: a rough sound in the throat.
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Question 4 of 30
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Answer: A. oe
Dutch oe sounds like English “oo”: boek (book). Dutch oo sounds like “oa” in “boat”.
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Question 5 of 30
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Answer: C. ij and ei
ij and ei sound the same, as in mijn (my) and klein (small). Dutch people call them “lange ij” and “korte ei”.
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Question 6 of 30
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Answer: B. drie
Three is drie. Dutch ie sounds like “ee”. Drei is German, not Dutch.
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Question 7 of 30
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Answer: D. huis
You hear ui, as in huis (house). It sounds like “ow” said with round lips.
Transcript
Dit is mijn huis.
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Question 8 of 30
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Answer: C. Joost
The speaker spells J, O, O, S, T. Dutch j sounds like English “y”, but it is written j.
Transcript
Mijn naam is Joost. Ik spel het: J, O, O, S, T.
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Question 9 of 30
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Answer: C. IJsland
Iceland is IJsland. At the start of a word, IJ counts as one letter, so both letters are capitals.
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Question 10 of 30
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Answer: A. He spells his name.
Anna asks “Kunt u dat spellen?” (Can you spell that?), and the man spells B, A, K, K, E, R.
Transcript
Anna: Hoe heet u?
Meneer Bakker: Bakker.
Anna: Kunt u dat spellen?
Meneer Bakker: Ja. B, A, K, K, E, R. -
Question 11 of 30
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Answer: D. See you tomorrow
“Morgen” means “tomorrow” and “tot” means “until”. Good morning is goedemorgen.
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Question 12 of 30
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Answer: D. Goedenavond
In the evening, say goedenavond. Welterusten (sleep well) is for bedtime, not a greeting.
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Question 13 of 30
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Answer: A. Hoi
Hoi is an informal hello for friends and people you know well.
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Question 14 of 30
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Answer: A. Hoe gaat het met u?
Use the formal u with older people and officials: Hoe gaat het met u?
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Question 15 of 30
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Answer: D. Goed, dank je. En met jou?
Say how you are (goed = fine) and ask back: En met jou? (And you?)
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Question 16 of 30
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Answer: D. Pleased to meet you
Aangenaam (pleasant) is a polite way to say “pleased to meet you” when you are introduced.
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Question 17 of 30
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Answer: C. heet
To give your name, say “Ik heet …” (my name is …). Heb means “have”.
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Question 18 of 30
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Answer: A. Morning
Both people say goedemorgen, which means “good morning”.
Transcript
Lisa: Goedemorgen, mevrouw De Vries!
Mevrouw De Vries: Goedemorgen, Lisa. Hoe gaat het met je? -
Question 19 of 30
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Answer: C. They use the informal jij.
Tom asks “Hoe heet jij?”, so they use informal jij. “Leuk je te ontmoeten” means “nice to meet you”.
Transcript
Tom: Hoi, ik ben Tom. Hoe heet jij?
Noor: Ik heet Noor. Leuk je te ontmoeten! -
Question 20 of 30
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Answer: C. Later today
Tot straks means “see you later (today)”. Tomorrow would be tot morgen.
Transcript
Doei, tot straks!
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Question 21 of 30
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Answer: C. ben
With ik, zijn becomes ben: Ik ben student.
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Question 22 of 30
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Answer: B. is
With hij, zij and het, zijn becomes is: Hij is leraar.
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Question 23 of 30
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Answer: D. Where are you from?
Komen means “to come” and vandaan means “from”. “Where do you live?” is Waar woon je?
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Question 24 of 30
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Answer: D. Kom
When jij comes after the verb in a question, the verb drops its -t: jij komt → Kom jij…?
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Question 25 of 30
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Answer: D. Nederlands
Nederlands is the language. Nederland is the country, and a Nederlander is a Dutch man.
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Question 26 of 30
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Answer: A. Spreekt u Engels?
With u, the verb keeps its -t, also in questions: Spreekt u Engels?
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Question 27 of 30
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Answer: B. in
Use in with cities and countries: Ik woon in Utrecht. Uit means “from”.
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Question 28 of 30
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Answer: D. In Rotterdam
Paolo comes from Italy (Italië), but he lives (woont) in Rotterdam.
Transcript
Ik heet Paolo. Ik kom uit Italië, maar ik woon in Rotterdam.
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Question 29 of 30
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Answer: B. Dutch and French
He says “Ik spreek Nederlands en Frans”: Dutch and French.
Transcript
Emma: Waar komt u vandaan?
Meneer Jansen: Ik kom uit België. Ik spreek Nederlands en Frans. -
Question 30 of 30
Show answer
Answer: A. A little
“Een beetje Nederlands” means “a little Dutch”.
Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.
What to know before the test
- The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) calls levels A1 and A2 “basic user” levels.
- At CEFR level A1, a learner can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, introduce themselves and others, and ask and answer simple questions about personal details, such as where they live, people they know and things they have. They can interact in a simple way if the other person talks slowly and clearly and is ready to help.
- The Dutch government’s civic integration exam abroad is at language level A1. It has three parts: speaking, reading and knowledge of Dutch society.
- The Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (CNaVT) tests and certifies learners of Dutch as a foreign language. It is a project of the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union).
- 112 is the emergency number everywhere in the European Union, including the Netherlands. It is free and works from fixed and mobile phones.
- The Dutch police give 112 as the number to call in an emergency. For questions that are not urgent, or to make an appointment with your local police, the number is 0900-8844.
Frequently asked questions
Which plan should I choose: 7, 10, 15 or 30 days?
All four plans have the same 30 units and the same questions. Only the daily load changes: about 4–5 units a day in 7 days, 3 a day in 10 days, 2 a day in 15 days, and 1 a day in 30 days. Choose the plan that fits the time you have each day.
What level will I reach?
The course covers the basics of level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): everyday phrases, simple questions and answers, and short conversations when people speak slowly and clearly.
Is this an official Dutch certificate?
No. This is an independent practice course. It is not an official language exam and is not connected to the Dutch government, the Taalunie, CNaVT or any other testing body. If you need proof of your Dutch, take an official exam.
How do the listening questions work?
Press the play button and your device reads the Dutch text aloud with a computer voice. You can play it again. After you answer, you can read the text.
Which Dutch does the course teach?
Standard Dutch as it is spoken in the Netherlands. Dutch is also spoken in Belgium (Flanders), where some words and sounds are a little different, but people understand each other well. All instructions and explanations are in English.
What should I do after this course?
Keep practising every day: review the units, read and listen to simple Dutch, and speak with other people. Then move on to level A2, or take an official exam if you need a certificate.
Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?
No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace any licence, certification or training required by law.
Sources
- Council of Europe – CEFR global scale (Table 1)
- Netherlands Worldwide (Government of the Netherlands) – Civic integration exam abroad
- CNaVT – Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (Taalunie)
- European Commission – 112, the European emergency number
- Politie (Dutch police) – Contact
- Politie (Dutch police) – Contact (Dutch)