The Dutch civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen): an overview

If you've moved to the Netherlands from outside the EU, you have probably heard the word inburgering (civic integration). For many newcomers, passing the inburgeringsexamen is a legal requirement, and it can feel like a big, confusing project. This post gives you a clear overview: what the exam is, who usually has to take it, what the parts are, and how to prepare. One thing first, and it's important: the rules change and depend on your personal situation. Use this post as a starting point, and always check the official sources for the rules that apply to you.

Where to find the official rules

Before you read further, bookmark these sources:

• DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), the government organisation that runs the exams and sends you letters about your integration requirement.
• inburgeren.nl, the official website about civic integration, with information about the exams, practice materials and how to register.
• Your municipality (de gemeente), which under the current system plays a big role in guiding newcomers.

Exam fees, deadlines, exam lengths, pass marks and exemptions all change from time to time, so we don't list them here. If someone online tells you a number, check it on the official sites.

What is inburgering, and who has to do it?

Inburgeren means "to integrate": learning the language and understanding how Dutch society works. In general, people from outside the European Union who come to live in the Netherlands for a longer period are often required to integrate. People from EU countries, the EEA and Switzerland usually don't have to, but they're welcome to learn Dutch anyway.

Whether you have to take the exam depends on things like your nationality, the type of residence permit you have, your age and when you arrived. Some people are exempt, for example because of earlier education in Dutch. DUO will usually tell you in a letter if you are inburgeringsplichtig (required to integrate).

• Ik ben inburgeringsplichtig. — I am required to complete civic integration.
• Ik heb een brief van DUO gekregen. — I have received a letter from DUO.
• Moet ik het inburgeringsexamen doen? — Do I have to take the civic integration exam?

Some people, for example certain partners of Dutch residents, first take a basic exam abroad, before they move. That's a separate exam at a lower level.

The current system and the routes

On 1 January 2022 a new civic integration law came into force, the Wet inburgering 2021. If your integration requirement started under this law, the municipality usually starts with an intake conversation and makes a personal plan with you. In that plan you follow one of several routes:

For most people, the target is B1: the level where you can handle everyday situations, work conversations and simple official letters on your own. In some situations a lower level may be accepted for certain parts, but that depends on your case and the current rules.

If your integration requirement started before 2022, you probably fall under the older law, which has different parts and a different language level. Again: check with DUO which rules apply to you.

The parts of the exam

In the B1-route, the exam usually tests the four language skills plus knowledge of Dutch society. Your personal plan may include other parts too, such as a participation statement and a module about work and participation.

What does B1 look like?

At B1 you don't need perfect grammar, but you need to communicate clearly and connect your ideas. A typical speaking answer might look like this:

• Ik woon nu in Utrecht. Ik vind het een fijne stad, omdat alles dichtbij is en je overal kunt fietsen. — I now live in Utrecht. I think it's a nice city, because everything is close by and you can cycle everywhere.

And a typical writing task is a short, polite email, for example to a neighbour, a school or a doctor:

• Helaas kan ik morgen niet komen, omdat mijn zoon ziek is. Kunnen we een nieuwe afspraak maken? — Unfortunately I can't come tomorrow, because my son is ill. Can we make a new appointment?

What is KNM?

KNM is not a language test but a knowledge test. It's about practical life in the Netherlands. Typical topics are work and income, healthcare, housing, education, history, politics and how people treat each other. Some example facts:

• Bij de gemeente schrijf je je in als je in Nederland komt wonen. — You register with the municipality when you come to live in the Netherlands.
• Voor de meeste zorg ga je eerst naar de huisarts. — For most care you first go to your GP.
• In Nederland zijn mannen en vrouwen gelijk voor de wet. — In the Netherlands, men and women are equal before the law.

How our lessons help

Our course runs from A1 to B1, which matches the language goal of the B1-route. It can't replace official exam practice, but it builds the language you need.

• A1 lessons give you the basics: greetings, numbers, time, shopping and daily routine.
• A2 lessons cover practical situations that come up in the exam and in KNM: the town hall, the doctor, the bank, work and emergencies.
• B1 lessons train the skills you need to reach the target level: connectors to link your ideas, the formal email for writing tasks, and meetings and job interviews for speaking.

Our grammar guides help too. For speaking and writing at B1, focus on Dutch word order, linking words, the perfect tense and writing emails in Dutch.

Study tips

• Check your requirement first. Find out which law and which route apply to you before you start planning.
• Use the official practice exams. inburgeren.nl offers practice material, so you know what the real exam looks like. Do them more than once.
• Practise all four skills. Many learners read a lot but rarely speak or write. Record yourself answering simple questions, and write a short email every week.
• Learn connectors. Words like omdat, want, maar, daarom and als make your answers sound like B1. See Dutch conjunctions.
• Read real Dutch. Letters from the municipality, websites of your GP and simple news sites are perfect practice for the reading exam.
• Study KNM separately. Even with good Dutch, you need to learn the facts. Make a list of topics and study one each week.
• Plan backwards from your deadline. There's a deadline for completing your integration, so leave time for a resit if you need one.

Tip: Ask your municipality and your language school about support. Depending on your situation, there may be help with courses, planning or costs. Don't assume: just ask.

Quick summary

• The inburgeringsexamen tests whether you can live and work in Dutch society.
• Whether you must take it depends on your personal situation. DUO usually informs you.
• Under the Wet inburgering 2021 (in force since 1 January 2022), most people follow the B1-route; there are also an education route and a Z-route.
• Typical parts: reading, listening, writing, speaking and KNM, and sometimes other parts.
• Rules, fees and deadlines change: always check DUO and inburgeren.nl.
• Our A1–B1 lessons build the language you need; combine them with official practice exams.

Practise it

Start with practical situations in At the town hall, work on your writing in Formal emails, and prepare for conversations about your job in Work.