Whether your stay in the Netherlands is temporary or long-term, learning Dutch is important.

Being able to communicate in the native language opens doors to the labour market and speeds up social integration. Whether you want to shop easily, read ads and actually understand them, ask for directions or help someone else, a basic knowledge of Dutch is essential. Moreover, for some non-EU citizens, a basic knowledge of Dutch has recently become a prerequisite for obtaining a visa and authorisation to stay in the Netherlands.

Language schools abound in the Netherlands, offering everything from basic survival Dutch to courses that prepare you for proficiency exams. To provide you with an overview of what is available, we have gathered the information necessary to get you started learning Dutch in our ACCESS Guide "Learning the Dutch language"

The first part of the Guide focuses on learning Dutch as a requirement for obtaining a visa or resident's permit (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) or for a work or study visa. It also explains the procedures for obtaining the NT2 qualification.

In the second and main part of this booklet, we have compiled a list of language schools/institutes. Whilst it is not comprehensive, we have ensured that the contact details are accurate.

We hope that these brief entries, arranged alphabetically by location, will save you time and help you to better evaluate your options.

     BSN Language Centre  -  Kickstart School  -  Language courses, German School