Good morning all!

I'm coming to the end of my final B1 course in East Flanders and so am starting to get conversational, as I hope to finish B2 by next year. My vocabulary is quite good but where I get stuck is sentence structure with longer and more complex sentences.

Does anyone have any tips and tricks (or even games) to help with sentences that contain : - Separable verbs with different tenses or modal verbs thrown in - different tenses that also use "er" (ervan, ertegen, ermee etc) - negations with both of the above

I realise there may be no easy answer but would be grateful for any "formula" nonetheless.

Me and my husband's dulingo this morning both contained living apples.

Ik zeg vooral "waarvoor?" omdat ik dacht dat het just was, maar ik heb gisteren op een tv programma de presentator "voor wat" horen zeggen, en nu vraag ik me af of dat ook een juiste manier is om het te zeggen.

I'm a native speaker of Dutch, a linguist, and an experienced Dutch teacher in Pacific Northwest in the U.S. As a service to the larger Internet community, I'm considering teaching a free Zoom class on the basics of Dutch pronunciation, mostly geared to English speakers.

This will be a 2½-hour class, probably on a Wednesday evening starting at 5 pm PDT or so. Or, if there's interest outside the U.S., perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday at 9 am PDT or so. (I'm nine hours earlier than the Netherlands.)

I'm trying to assess how much interest there would be for this. Please respond in this thread if you'd be interested in attending this free Zoom class. If you have any questions, feel free to send me an email at [dutchinseattle@gmail.com](mailto:dutchinseattle@gmail.com).

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UPDATE (7-Sep-25): Wow! I didn't expect this much interest! Based on the overwhelming response, I'll do two 2½-hour sessions: one on Wednesday, September 17 at 6 pm PDT / 9 pm EDT, which works best for folks in the U.S., and another one on Sunday, September 21 at 9 am PDT / 5 pm GMT / 6 pm CET, which should work for most folks in Europe. (If neither of those work for you, email me at [dutchinseattle@gmail.com](mailto:dutchinseattle@gmail.com). If there are enough people, I can also do a session at a Friday or Saturday night for me for everyone in Asia and Australia.)

You can now register for this class on this Google form. After registration, you'll receive a confirmation email. You'll get a separate email to confirm your spot, along with the Zoom meeting information. To ensure that everyone can actively participate, there will be a 25-person limit for each session. Registrations are taken in the order in which they're received. If you sign up past that limit, you'll be added to a wait list. Depending on the number of people on that list, I may add another session.

Thanks!
--Ron

Hello,

I am a novice learner, English first language. This sentence was provided to me by Google Translate, but I have two questions.

1. What is the purpose of "ten" in this sentence? How would the sentence change without it?

2. When do I use "grote" instead of "groot"? It's because it's an adjective.

Hi all,

I am planning to open my own Dutch school in Rotterdam for expats in a few months. I will do this together with a colleague, we both have extensive experience in teaching Dutch as a second language.

My question to you is: What is or would be important for you in choosing a Dutch school?

So Dutch is a language I've had some interest in learning because my grandparents came from the Netherlands, and so I feel a sort of connection with it even if my actual experience of Dutch culture is mostly just some snacks lol. But last time I did it I more or less lost motivation to learn because I know pretty much everyone speaks English if I ever took a vacation there and will switch to it even if you try to speak Dutch, my grandparents speak perfect English, and I don't really consume Dutch media. Like just started to feel like a bunch of work just for the sake of knowing a language I would never have any chances to use. Like I'm not really planning on living in the Netherlands tho I suppose knowing the language would be good incase the US got worse because it's my first-choice foreign country to live in if it got bad enough to be worth leaving.

Ik zie op https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/stoten dat stoten "een duw geven" betekent, maar ik zie ook dit: "Hij stuurt Dixon de touwen in met een serie stoten." En hier betekent het slaan. Dus wat is het? Het verschil tussen duwen en slaan is focking groot he.

So I just learned recently that nog can be and is the correct way of saying more in Dutch as in. Ik wil nog 3 eieren. I always thought meer was the word for more. So when then would you use meer instead of nog?

I like folk metal and traditional folk music, my favorite Dutch band is Heidevolk. Do you have any similar bands or songs that you like?

Which one do you use more daily? What is the difference? Dank je wel!

Hoi hoi iedereen :) ik wil graag mezelf testen met grammaticale onderwerpen en zoiets, maar ik kan online geen lijst vinden zoals je die bij andere talen kan vinden. Bvb, op niveau A2 zou je het verschil moeten kunnen maken tussen "die", "dat" etc, en op niveau B1 zou je vaste combinaties van werkwoorden en voorzetsels moeten kunnen onthouden. Dat zou superhandig zijn.

Dankjulliewel :D

https://youtube.com/shorts/dIpyQUc4OS0?si=LT7qR7ziQqqPMB2r

Hiya, excited to finally release a personal project of mine!! I built a monster Dutch Anki deck that (imo) blows every other deck out of the water, no question.

I combined a list of the 5000 most common words, audio pronunciation, dictionary entries, and a ton of prompting with Gemini 2.5 Pro (not slop, actually correct) -> then manually reviewed and edited.

The result is a crazy detailed deck, with each card having:

• audio + phonetics
• almost all possible meanings of each word, sorted by most frequent meaning to least (no more learning super uncommon translations by accident)
• example sentences
• usage tips, like formal/slang/regional (prevents learning loads of archaic Flemish words like I did at first)
• verb forms, plurals, gender
• synonyms/antonyms (super useful, tells you when to use synonym X and when to use synonym Y)
• common learner mistakes
• etymology
• … basically everything I could stuff in.

And it's amazing to use 🤩🤩 I think it’s ridiculously cool and I wish I’d had something like this when I started learning Dutch, although after getting to B1 level I'm now basically using this to correct all the wrong translations I learned, plus adding a lot of new very common translations I had somehow missed before.

This project also burned like €400 in AI fees so it'd be nice if it was more than just me using it lol. Check it out and give me feedback as would love to do this for other languages/applications too: AnkiWeb deck

Examples card (some meanings omitted):

I first learned to read/write/speak Dutch nearly 30 years ago and though not entirely fluent, I'd generally say that I can still do all 3 reasonably well.

I came across a phrase that Duo Lingo used repeatedly this evening in a section about reflexive verbs.

Im not sure I've ever seen or used je je in this way and I'd like to understand ot better. Can anyone explain the why and how to use this part of speech?

TIA

Hoi iedereen, my boyfriend just got his visa and is now learning Dutch with an online tutor. In a month he has a week off and wants to do a week course (in person). Does anyone has any recommendations? We live in Amsterdam

I'm looking for a Dutch speaker can help me to practice language and improve it

When I started learning Dutch, I wanted apps that felt light, fun, and actually helpful. Here are the ones I use daily for both conversations and NT2 exam prep:

Conversation – Chickytutor, HelloTalk

Speaking is always the scariest part when starting a new language. I use Chickytutor to practice speaking sentences whenever I feel like it. It's nice because I don't have to be shy or worry about mistakes. Then I go to HelloTalk when I want to talk with real people. Sometimes I exchange simple phrases about the weather (a true Dutch topic!), sometimes we chat about cycling routes or weekend plans. Both apps make it easy to practice without too much pressure.

Foundation – DutchPod101

Learning Dutch basics felt less intimidating with DutchPod101. The audio lessons are perfect for my commute, and they build gradually from absolute beginner to advanced. I usually listen to one lesson daily and repeat the phrases out loud. What I love most is how they explain not just the language but also Dutch culture and daily life situations. The lessons feel conversational rather than academic. After a few months, I noticed I could understand simple Dutch conversations around me. It's become my main resource for building a solid foundation.

Vocabulary – Memrise Dutch

Dutch vocabulary seemed tricky with all those compound words, but Memrise made it stick. The app uses videos of real Dutch speakers saying phrases, which helps me understand how Dutch actually sounds on the street. What I love most is seeing multiple speakers say the same phrase - it helps me catch different accents and speaking speeds. At first, I thought the mem (memory tricks) were silly, but they actually work. I practice during coffee breaks, and slowly my vocabulary has expanded to cover everyday situations. The spaced repetition ensures I don't forget what I learned weeks ago.

NT2 Exam Preparation – Naar Nederland

When I wanted to get serious about the NT2 (Dutch as a Second Language) exam, I found Naar Nederland really helpful. It's the official preparation portal with practice materials for all exam components. I like how it covers real-life scenarios you'll actually encounter in the Netherlands - from doctor visits to work situations. The practice tests show exactly what to expect in the real exam. Working through the modules daily keeps me focused on practical Dutch rather than just textbook language.

Dictionary – Van Dale

A good dictionary is always needed, and for Dutch I use Van Dale. It's the gold standard Dutch dictionary and works offline, which is super convenient when I'm out and about in Amsterdam. What's special is that it shows common expressions and phrases using each word, not just translations. The pronunciation audio helps with those tricky Dutch sounds like 'ui' and 'ij'. I also like how it shows diminutives and plural forms, which Dutch uses constantly. It makes looking up words quick and comprehensive.

Reading – NOS Jeugdjournaal

To improve my reading, I check NOS Jeugdjournaal daily. It's news written for young people, so the language is simpler but still natural Dutch. The topics cover everything from Dutch politics to international events, so I learn vocabulary across different areas. I read one article each morning with my breakfast. At first, I had to look up every third word, but after some time I noticed I could grasp the main ideas without constantly checking the dictionary. It's a nice way to learn Dutch while staying informed about what's happening in the Netherlands.

YouTube – Listening & Review

I also use YouTube as part of my learning routine. There are so many channels where you can listen to natural Dutch conversations, learn grammar, or review pronunciation. I sometimes watch Dutch vloggers like Dylan Haegens or Enzo Knol with Dutch subtitles, sometimes structured lessons from Learn Dutch with Bart de Pau or DutchPod101, depending on my mood. Dutch subtitles help me connect the sounds with the spelling (those silent letters!), which improves both my listening and reading at the same time. It feels less like studying and more like browsing YouTube normally, but I still pick up colloquial expressions and everyday Dutch every time I watch.

Hi, I'm you learn Dutch and I want to listen to, to some Dutch music, but I don't really like what I'm finding.. It's all kind of pop and I don't know where to look.

My favourite bands/musicians:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers Hole The Mamas & The Papas Pearl Jam The Smashing Pumpkins The Beatles Metallica Green Day Lesley Gore Ella Fitzgerald Pink Floyd Mitski Verruca Salt Bon Jovi Tom Petty ABBA Alice In Chains Queen Radiohead bôa Lady Gaga The Vines

Hoi allemaal!

I posted a pronunciation check a couple weeks ago, and that was very helpful with all your comments.

This time I wanted to read a newspaper article - so that it is more of a daily language than a children’s book.

https://voca.ro/1a1vOEcRd0Cu

I would love to get your feedback!

Thanks.

Here is the text: Provincies mogen in de toekomst een eigen bedrijf oprichten om het openbaar vervoer te verzorgen. Daardoor zijn ze straks niet meer verplicht om de regionale bus- en spoorlijnen aan te besteden bij commerciële partijen. Een voorstel dat deze wetswijziging regelt, lijkt een meerderheid in de Tweede Kamer te gaan halen. Vooral in dunner bevolkte gebieden, zoals Drenthe, Groningen en Overijssel, gaat het al jaren niet goed met het openbaar vervoer. Bushaltes verdwijnen, lijnen rijden steeds minder of worden zelfs helemaal opgeheven. Reizigersvereniging Rover spreekt al langer over een "neerwaartse spiraal".

Hi. I’m struggling with surrounding myself with Dutch media as I’m having a hard time finding things that would interest me. Do you have any Dutch shows to recommend (preferably available on Netflix)? Or Dutch-speaking lifestyle youtubers (preferably women in their late 20s/early 30s)?

Hi everyone I’m Jimmy from the Netherlands. I recently got accepted as a Dutch tutor on iTalki, and I made a short introduction video where I speak Dutch, English, and a little Spanish.

My goal is to make it fun and encouraging for beginners, so I thought it might also be useful for learners here.

Here’s the link if you’d like to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQo-BZPyNAQ

I’d also love any feedback from this community on how I can make it better for future videos 🙏

EDIT: the Italki link https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/28246216

Hi everyone! I have a Duolingo Family Plan and I need 4 more people to share it with. It's just 15 eur each.

• You can join me from anywhere in the world.

• The plan will expire on Sep, 2026.

If you want to join, please send me a message!