Amsterdam Language Schools

Top Amsterdam Language Schools

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Dutch Ready

Kraijenhoffstraat 137A, 1018 RG Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (176 reviews)

Dutch Ready offers private Dutch lessons in Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden and online. Its teaching method is designed to help learners pick up the language quickly.

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British Language Training Centre

Prinsengracht 400, 1016 JB Amsterdam 4.3★★★★★ (123 reviews)

A language training centre in Amsterdam offering English and Dutch courses. It is a Cambridge and IELTS examination centre and also runs CELTA teacher training and in-company classes.

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Mercuur Taal Learn Dutch in Amsterdam

Eerste Weteringplantsoen 2c, 1017 SJ Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (19 reviews)

Mercuur Taal offers Dutch language courses in central Amsterdam. It provides quality classes at reasonable prices for expats.

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Koentact Dutch Courses

Elandsgracht 70, 1016 TX Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (486 reviews)

Koentact is a Dutch language school in Amsterdam. It offers intensive and semi-intensive group courses, private lessons, and corporate training for those learning Dutch.

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EF Education First Taalreizen

De Boelelaan 7, 1083 HJ Amsterdam 4.4★★★★★ (414 reviews)

The Dutch arm of EF Education First, a travel agency specialising in language-study trips for all ages and levels. It arranges language courses, gap years and study-abroad experiences around the world.

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Dutch Courses Amsterdam

Admiraal de Ruijterweg 175, 1056 GC Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (400 reviews)

Dutch Courses Amsterdam teaches Dutch in a friendly setting, drawing on more than 12 years of teaching experience. Its courses aim to make learning the language enjoyable and effective.

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NedLes – Dutch for internationals

Derde Oosterparkstraat 271, 1092 EA Amsterdam 4.7★★★★★ (300 reviews)

NedLes is a language institute in Amsterdam offering Dutch courses for internationals. Classes run at all levels, both online and in person.

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TaalBoost – Dutch Language Courses

Chasséstraat 34, 1057 JG Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (288 reviews)

TaalBoost offers Dutch language courses in Amsterdam, both in the classroom and online. Its teaching is teacher-guided and feedback-driven, with a practical, interactive focus on everyday use of the language.

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MixTree Languages

Eerste Weteringplantsoen 2 C O, 1017 SJ Amsterdam 4.9★★★★★ (275 reviews)

A language school in Amsterdam offering interactive English courses with qualified native English teachers. Lessons are available in Amsterdam or live online, aimed at learners wanting engaging, well-priced tuition.

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UvA Talen

Roetersstraat 25, 1018 WB Amsterdam 3.7★★★★★ (134 reviews)

UvA Talen is a language school in Amsterdam.

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School for Dutch

Ceintuurbaan 384, 1073 EM Amsterdam 5.0★★★★★ (98 reviews)

A Dutch-language school in Amsterdam's De Pijp with a playful, conversation-led teaching method. Courses focus mainly on speaking, helping learners build confidence in Dutch in a fun, relaxed way.

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Dutch & Such B.V.

Badlaan 16, 1182 JK Amstelveen 4.9★★★★★ (82 reviews)

Dutch & Such B.V. is a language school in Amstelveen that offers Dutch and English courses, including in-company and individual lessons. Its Dutch courses cover inburgering and elementary, intermediate and advanced levels, and its English...

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How to Choose a Dutch Language School in Amsterdam

Start by separating the goal: passing the inburgering exam for a residence permit follows a specific, regulated route, while picking up conversational Dutch for daily life does not.

If integration is the reason, confirm the course matches the route set out in your Personal Integration Plan (PIP) from the municipality - the B1 work/volunteer route, the education route, or the self-reliance (Z) route - since only some providers prepare students for the KNM test and NT2 state exam those routes require.

Parents weighing a Dutch-medium track against an international school for their kids, a decision covered in How the Dutch Education System Works: An Amsterdam Guide, often add their own Dutch lessons to manage parent-teacher meetings and school paperwork. Booking an intensive course around the breaks in Amsterdam School Holiday Dates For 2026-2027 helps avoid clashing with childcare gaps.

Questions People Ask

Do I legally need to learn Dutch to live in Amsterdam?

Only some residents do: non-EU/EEA nationals who arrived after January 1, 2022 to settle long-term generally must reach B1 Dutch under the Civic Integration Act, while EU/EEA, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Turkish nationals are exempt, along with minors, people past retirement age, and anyone who already attended Dutch-language schooling for eight-plus years before turning 18. The municipality sets the actual deadline, typically three years from the start date on your Personal Integration Plan. Ask your gemeente for your own PIP dates rather than assuming a generic one.

What is inburgering and which route applies to me?

Inburgering is the Dutch civic integration process, and people required to complete it follow one of three routes: the B1 route (Dutch to B1 level, the KNM test on Dutch society, and a work or volunteer commitment), the education route for those continuing into further study, or the self-reliance (Z) route aimed at A1 level for those who find B1 unrealistic. Which route applies is decided at your municipal intake, not by the school you choose. A course provider can tell you whether their program is built for the route on your PIP.

How much does a Dutch course cost, and is financial help available?

Course fees vary by provider, format and intensity, so ask each school directly for a current quote rather than relying on a general figure. If you are completing an official integration route, DUO (the Dutch education executive agency) offers an inburgering loan of up to 10,000 euros at 2.33 percent interest, repayable over ten years, though eligibility depends on your route and personal situation. Confirm with DUO whether your chosen course is loan-eligible before enrolling.

Is there a free or low-cost way to learn Dutch in Amsterdam?

EU/EEA citizens can check with their gemeente for municipal Dutch courses, sometimes offered at reduced or no cost. Libraries and organizations such as Humanitas also run informal conversation groups for practicing spoken Dutch outside a classroom. These build conversational skills but are not a substitute for an accredited inburgering or NT2 exam-prep course if you need one for a permit or further study.

Do my children need separate Dutch lessons if they attend an international school?

It depends on the school and the family's plans: some international schools teach Dutch as a subject, while others leave it up to parents to arrange separately, so check the specific listing on our International Schools page if you are weighing that route for your child too. Families who expect to stay long-term, or who may switch a child into Dutch-medium education later, often add lessons earlier rather than later. Ask the language school whether it offers a children's course, since not all listed providers do.

What's the difference between an NT2 exam course and a regular Dutch class?

NT2 (Nederlands als Tweede Taal) is the official Dutch-as-a-second-language state exam, typically required for entry to Dutch-medium higher education or certain professional qualifications, and courses preparing for it are more exam-focused than general conversation classes. A regular Dutch class may cover similar grammar but without the structured practice toward the NT2's specific reading, writing, listening and speaking format. Tell the school upfront if you need NT2 certification, since not every course is built around it.