OnlineThere are 2 manners to practise or learn Dutch online. Either you just take a look around on the internet and you certainly will find some websites that provide you free excersises. Another possibilty is downloading software to learn or pratice Dutch, but these software programs are not for free.
Here’s a list of possible software programs.
If you want to download the software, just click on the name of the program.
App on your smartphoneThere are a few apps you can download and use on your smartphone. These apps can help you learn or improve your Dutch.
If you need more information, just click on the name of the app.
The Flemish gouvernement will guide you in case you want to live in Belgium, more specific if you want to live in Flanders or in Brussels.
Who is entitled to the integration programme? Anyone over the age of 18 who wants to settle in Flanders or Brussels. Some people are obligated to follow the programme. The Flemish government has made a list of the following groups;
The obligation to participate in the civic integration programme will continue to exist as long as they have not fulfilled this obligation. Attention, for the time being the compulsory integration programme only applies in Flanders. Brussels is taking the final steps towards a commitment (at the earliest 2018).
A civic integration programme consists of:
The Flemish Agency for Integration and Integration and the two urban agencies in Antwerp (Atlas) and Ghent (IN Ghent) offer the integration programmes.
There are a few organizations that provid language courses or you can sign up for a language school.
For more information, click on the name of the organization.
Learn and practise on your ownIf you want learn Dutch on your own, it’s easy to buy study material. You will find this study material in shops like Standaard Boekhandel, De Slegte, Fnac, Acco. If you don’t want to buy books, just take a look around in the library. You’ll definitly find helpfull information under the section ‘Dutch language courses’ and ‘NT2’.
Remember: learning a language will become easier if you use a mix of study material like a dictionnary, grammar exercises, Dutch language courses,…
Language exchange partnerYou can also practise your language while having a conversation with a language exchange parnter, also called a language buddy. You can contact this partner and schedule meeting appointments. This person is a native speaker so Dutch is the mother tongue. These meetings give you the opportunity to improve your Dutch in an informal setting.
For more information, click on the name of the organization
Huis van het Nederlands is an organization for NT2 trainings and Training Dutch as second language. Huis van het Nederlands has a lot of regional departments as you can see in the overview below. For more information about the language trainings, click on the link of the preferred area. The organization will help you to find the right language training matched to your language level.
Below is an overview of the sites of ‘Huis van het Nederlands’
If you would like to practise or learn Dutch with a professional, you can opt for private lessons. In these lessons a professional will practise with you. (teacher, translator,….) A private lesson is not the same as a language buddy, you pay the professional for the private lessons.
Booking private lessons can easily be done online for example via online service sites or private schools.
Below is a short overview of websites or data from private schools;
As well as all the formal ways of learning or practicing a language, there are also alternative ways. We offer you a few examples;
Language Café
A language café is an organized evening where residents of the city or village talk to each other. Such a language café is organised in different cities. Such event offers many advantages; it is noncommittal, you get to meet new people and you can practise Dutch in an informal way. An evening in a language café is not similar to Dutch courses, it is not organized by teachers. Basically anyone can go to the language café but it is a challenge for absolute beginners!
Macharius Ghent , Bizar Café Ghent , Meetup Brussels
Soaps, movies and television
By watching Flemish soaps, movies and programmes, you will hear many new words and learn how to use words in the right context. the often you listen to Dutch conversations, the quicker you will be able to understand it. Watching Flemish soaps, films and programmes is not only relaxing, it a part of our society and can easily serve as a topic for discussion. This can promote your integration.
There are 5 major TV channels in Flanders. You can watch these on television with a subscription, but in recently it is as easy to watch online. The only thing required is an e-mail address to create an account on the website of the TV channel. This account allows you to view programs for free, live or otherwise. Click on the icon of the TV channel to go to the website.
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Kids
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A few examples of children’s TV shows:
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A few examples of children’s TV shows:
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Youth
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A few examples of youth TV shows:
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A few examples of youth TV shows:
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A few examples of youth TV shows:
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Adults
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A few examples of adults TV shows:
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A few examples of adults TV shows:
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A few examples of adults TV shows:
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A few examples of adults TV shows:
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Movies
Below you can find an overview of some Flemish movies.
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Radio and Dutch songs
The radio stations in Flanders mainly play English music because it is most popular among the Flemish people. Flanders has a number of popular radio stations and each radio station tries to address a theme or reach a certain target group, such as classical music or aimed at the younger target audience. You can choose your favourite radio station and if you don’t have a radio, you can often listen live to the radio on the station’s website. Click on the icon of a radio station to be redirected to the official website.
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This overview is not complete. For a more detailed overview, click here.
English music is popular in Flanders, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t Flemish artists with Dutch songs! Below you can find an overview of some popular Flemish and Dutch artists.
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There is an account on spotify of iMined Belgium with 3 playlists full of Dutch music. You can click below on one of the lists.
The first one is for childeren, the second one for the youth and the last one for adults. Enjoy listening!
