The inburgeringsexamen is the Dutch integration exam that shows you can use enough Dutch and that you understand how Dutch society works. Most adults working toward civic integration, and many people applying for a residence permit, need to pass it. This guide covers the five parts, the required level, how marking works and where to find official information.
What is the inburgeringsexamen and who has to take it?
The inburgeringsexamen (integration exam) demonstrates that you speak enough Dutch and know enough about Dutch society to integrate. It is required for your inburgering and for many residence purposes. The exam is run by DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs), under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
What are the five parts of the exam?
The exam has five separate parts, each testing a different skill.
- Lezen (Reading): multiple-choice questions on everyday texts, such as notices, letters and short articles.
- Luisteren (Listening): questions on short conversations and announcements you hear, for example a phone call about a job or a waiting-room announcement.
- Schrijven (Writing): producing short messages, letters and forms.
- Spreken (Speaking): talking and responding out loud in short, everyday situations.
- KNM, Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (Knowledge of Dutch Society): questions about housing, work, health, official bodies and more.
What level do you need?
For inburgering and most residence purposes, the required language level is A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). The KNM questions are also set in simple A2-level Dutch. A higher B1 route exists through the separate Staatsexamen NT2, so always check which level applies to your own situation.
How is the exam marked?
DUO does not publish the exact number of questions or the raw pass mark for each part; instead, an exam committee decides whether you have passed or failed. Because there is no public cut-score to study toward, the most useful preparation is broad, steady practice across all five parts rather than aiming at a specific number.
What does KNM cover?
KNM tests eight official themes:
- Werk en inkomen (Work and income): finding work, pay, tax and unemployment benefits, and your rights as an employee.
- Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen (Manners, values and norms): politeness, agreements, equality and how people in the Netherlands treat one another.
- Wonen (Housing): renting, buying, neighbours, waste separation and everyday life in a Dutch home.
- Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (Health and healthcare): the family doctor (huisarts), pharmacy, health insurance, hospitals and emergencies.
- Geschiedenis en geografie (History and geography): Dutch history, the provinces, water management and the landscape.
- Instanties (Official bodies): the municipality (gemeente), DUO, the tax authority (Belastingdienst), the employee insurance agency (UWV) and other official organisations.
- Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat (How the country is governed and the rule of law): government, elections, the constitution, rights and the rule of law.
- Onderwijs en opvoeding (Education and upbringing): school, childcare, parent-teacher conversations and growing up in the Netherlands.
Where can you find official information?
Official and current information about the inburgeringsexamen, registration and costs is published by DUO at inburgeren.nl. This exam is set by a government body, so treat any third-party study material, including this guide, as a supplement to the official source, not a replacement for it.
How can you prepare?
Since DUO keeps the exact question count and pass mark per part private, the practical approach is consistent practice across all five skills rather than chasing a specific score. Work through KNM topic by topic, listen to short conversations and read the transcript afterward, and practise writing and speaking out loud so those skills feel less unfamiliar on exam day.
The RiverMap Learning inburgeringsexamen app practises all five parts at A2 level: KNM, Reading and Listening questions across the eight official themes, plus Writing and Speaking tasks with model answers and a self-check rubric, and flashcards for daily review. Every explanation is written in both Dutch and English. All content is original practice material, written to match the publicly documented exam format, and the app is not affiliated with or endorsed by DUO or any Dutch government body.