Last updated:
THE HAGUE – October 4, 2026 | The Dutch Daily
Learn Dutch for free: The Dutch Daily now has free online Dutch lessons for expats, built as short games. Each lesson takes a few minutes: you hear a real-life dialogue, learn the words, and play quick exercises. Every Dutch word and sentence has audio. There is no sign-up and no app to install: the lessons work in your browser, on your phone or laptop.
At a glance
- Price: free, no account needed.
- Level: from your very first word (A0) to inburgering A2 practice.
- Format: game lessons: listen, understand, learn the words, play.
- Audio: every word and sentence, read by natural-sounding AI Dutch voices at normal speed, with a slow replay button.
- Topics: the Dutch you need in the Netherlands: the supermarket, the huisarts, the gemeente, your landlord, work.
Learn Dutch for free: contents
1. How the free lessons work
Every lesson follows the same short flow:
- Hoor (listen): a short, everyday dialogue, with audio for each line.
- Snap (understand): what the dialogue means, line by line, in English.
- Woorden (words): the new words with their article (de or het) and audio.
- Games: quick exercises such as picking the right word, matching, building a sentence and listening.
- Les klaar! (lesson done): your score, and on to the next lesson.
The lessons are written for expats: instead of textbook sentences, you practise what you actually need, like booking a GP appointment, asking for a receipt or reporting a broken heater to your landlord.
2. All lessons, from beginner to A2
| Lesson | Level | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch greetings | A0 | Hello, goodbye and introducing yourself |
| Dutch numbers | A0 | Numbers 0–20 and telling the time |
| De or het? | A0 | The two Dutch articles, with games |
| Dutch pronunciation | A0 | The g, ch, ui, ij, eu and oe sounds |
| Dutch at the supermarket | A0–A1 | Food words and checkout phrases |
| Dutch weather words | A1 | Rain, wind, sun and the seasons |
| Dutch at the huisarts | A1–A2 | Medical words and GP phrases |
| Dutch on the train, bus and bike | A1 | Coming soon |
| Dutch with your landlord | A2 | Coming soon |
| Dutch at the gemeente | A2 | Coming soon |
| Dutch for money and tax | A2 | Coming soon |
| Dutch at work | A2 | Coming soon |
| Inburgering A2 practice | A2 | Coming soon |
New lessons are added to the Dutch lessons hub as soon as their audio is ready.
3. Where to start if you are a complete beginner
Start with Dutch greetings, then numbers and de or het. These three are short and give you the basics for everything else. Next, do pronunciation, so the Dutch g and ui stop being a mystery, and then pick the topic you need most this week, for example the supermarket or the huisarts.
Just need a few words fast? Start with our 47 basic Dutch phrases with audio: hello, thank you, paying by card, the doctor and 112.
4. Other free ways to learn Dutch in the Netherlands
- Taalcafé at your library: many Dutch public libraries run free language cafés where volunteers help you practise speaking Dutch in a small group. Check your local library’s website for times.
- Inburgering: if you have to take the civic integration exam, practise with the official practice exams from DUO on inburgeren.nl. Our inburgering guide explains the levels.
- Dutch TV and radio: watch with Dutch subtitles, so you hear and read the same words.
- Speak Dutch in shops and cafés: if people switch to English, ask: “Mag het in het Nederlands? Ik ben Nederlands aan het leren.” (Can we speak Dutch? I’m learning Dutch.)
Wondering how long it will take? See how long it takes to learn Dutch, with hours per level.
5. Tips to keep going
- Little and often: one lesson a day beats a long session once a week.
- Say it out loud: play each sentence and repeat it before you move on.
- Learn words with de or het: always learn a noun together with its article, for example de winkel (the shop) and het huis (the house).
- Use it the same day: after the supermarket lesson, say “Een tasje, alstublieft” at the checkout.
6. FAQ
Can I really learn Dutch for free?
Yes. Our Dutch lessons are free and work in your browser without an account. Libraries’ taalcafés and DUO’s practice exams are free too.
Do I need to download an app?
No. The lessons are web pages with games; they work on your phone, tablet or laptop.
Is there audio for every word?
Yes. Every Dutch word and sentence has audio, read by natural-sounding AI Dutch voices at normal speed, with a slow replay button.
Which level are the lessons?
They start at A0 (no Dutch at all) and go up to A2, the level of the inburgering exam.
Can these lessons replace a Dutch course?
They are a free way to start and to practise every day. For a certificate or a structured course with a teacher, combine them with a course or a taalcafé.
🇳🇱 Dutch Corner
| Dutch | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nederlands leren | To learn Dutch |
| De les | The lesson |
| Gratis | Free (of charge) |
| Het woord | The word |
| De uitspraak | The pronunciation |
| Oefenen | To practise |
| Herhalen | To repeat |
| Het taalcafé | Language café |
| Hoor | Listen (literally: hear) |
| Les klaar! | Lesson done! |
More in our guide: Dutch citizenship and inburgering
Free: Netherlands 2027 Money Checklist
Every deadline and number you need before and after 1 January 2027, on two printable pages. Confirm your email and the PDF is yours; we will also email you when the 2027 figures are confirmed.
