How to learn Dutch for work: a practical guide
Where to start, what to prioritise, and how to actually use Dutch at a Dutch workplace, even when everyone switches to English.
GrammarDe or het? How Dutch articles really work
The honest truth about de and het, the few reliable rules that do exist, and how to stop guessing.
GrammarDutch word order explained: the verb-second rule
The single most important rule in Dutch sentence building, plus questions and what happens in longer sentences.
BeginnerEssential Dutch greetings and polite phrases
The greetings, thank-yous and small-talk phrases you need from day one, and when to use jij versus u.
GrammarThe Dutch perfect tense: talking about the past
How to use hebben or zijn plus a participle, when to use each, and how to build the participle.
GrammarDutch modal verbs: moeten, mogen, kunnen, willen
The four verbs behind most polite requests, their forms, and the word-order rule that trips people up.
BeginnerDutch numbers and telling the time
Numbers 0-1000, the units-before-tens quirk, and why half tien means 9:30, not 10:30.
GrammarThe 't kofschip rule: -t or -d?
The simple check that tells you whether a Dutch regular verb takes -t or -d in the past tense.
ExamsDutch for the inburgering exam: where to start
What level you need, what the exam involves, and how to build the Dutch to pass it.
Getting startedHow long does it take to learn Dutch?
Realistic timelines level by level, what speeds it up, and what slows it down.
TipsCommon Dutch mistakes English speakers make
Word order, de/het, false friends and more — with clear fixes for each.
Getting startedThe best way to learn Dutch
A realistic step-by-step plan for beginners: what to prioritise and what to skip.
PronunciationDutch pronunciation guide
The g, ui, ij, the Dutch r and vowel length — the tricky sounds, explained.
GrammarDutch present tense conjugation
The regular stem + t pattern plus zijn and hebben, with clear tables.
Everyday lifeDutch for parents: school & the schoolplein
School vocabulary, phrases for teachers and the playground, and the system in brief.