Dutch course
Learn Dutch by speaking it
Fluently's Dutch course takes you from your first words (A1) to B2 in 8 sections, 248 lessons and 1,000 phrases. You practice them out loud in lessons, then use them in AI conversations in Dutch, by chat or voice call.
Start learning DutchUpdated 2026-10-02
- Phrases
- 1,000
- Lessons
- 248
- Sections
- 8
- Stories
- 18
Your first Dutch phrases
From section 1, First Steps. Every phrase in the course comes with a tip like these.
- 👋 Hallo Hello
Hallo works all day long. Hoi is the casual version, and dag serves as both hello and goodbye.
- ☀️ Goedemorgen Good morning
Written as one word, from goede plus morgen. After noon switch to goedemiddag, and later to goedenavond.
- ☕️ Een koffie, alstublieft A coffee, please
Een with a mumbled e is the article a; een with accents means one. Staff always get alstublieft.
- 🪑 Een tafel voor twee personen A table for two
Tafel is a de-word, so it would be de tafel. Personen is the plural of persoon.
- 🚉 Waar is het station? Where is the station?
Station is a het-word. Dutch has two words for the, de and het, and each noun keeps its own.
- ⬅️ Sla linksaf Turn left
Afslaan is separable, so the prefix af breaks off and lands at the end of the command.
- 🔢 Een, twee, drie One, two, three
Counting starts with een. Written with accents, één, it can only mean one and never a.
- ✋ Vier en vijf Four and five
En means and. The ij of vijf is close to the vowel in the English word eye.
- 🔢 Eenentwintig, tweeëntwintig, drieëntwintig Twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three
Dutch says the ones first and writes it all as one word; a trema keeps tweeëntwintig readable.
- 💶 Dat wordt veertig euro That will be forty euros
Dat wordt is what the till says when it adds up. Worden means to become.
The Dutch course, section by section
Each section has five units of five lessons, a review and a grammar guidebook.
A1 Section 1: First StepsSay hello, order, count and find your way
First Words
Say hello and introduce yourself
Greetings · Introductions · Politeness · Getting Help · Small Talk
“Hallo”
Food & Drinks
Order like a local
At the Café · Ordering Food · Tastes · Drinks · The Bill
“Een koffie, alstublieft”
Getting Around
Find your way in a new city
Asking the Way · Taking a Taxi · Public Transport · At the Hotel · Sightseeing
“Waar is het station?”
Numbers & Money
Count, pay and tell the time
Counting · Prices · Time · Days · At the Bank
“Een, twee, drie”
The Calendar
Bigger numbers, months and dates
Bigger Numbers · Months · Dates · Picking a Day · How Long
“Eenentwintig, tweeëntwintig, drieëntwintig”
Guidebook: 17 grammar notes
- The verb comes second. In a Dutch statement the verb sits in slot two. Open with a time word and the subject slides in behind it: Vandaag is het maandag.
- Je and u. Je and jij are for friends, family and children. U is the polite form for staff, strangers and officials, and its verb keeps the -t: spreekt u.
- Asking questions. Question words like hoe, wat, waar and wanneer come first and the verb follows. A yes-no question needs no extra word: it simply starts with the verb.
- De and het. Every noun carries de or het: de rekening, het water. Roughly two out of three are de-words, every plural is a de-word, and each noun has to be learned with its article.
A1 Section 2: Everyday LifeShops, health, family, food and your routine
Shopping
Buy what you need
At the Shop · Sizes & Colors · At the Market · Pharmacy · Returns
“Ik kijk even rond”
Health & Safety
Get help when you need it
How You Feel · At the Doctor · Emergencies · The Body · Staying Safe
“Ik voel me niet lekker”
Family & Friends
Talk about the people in your life
My Family · Friends · About You · Describing People · Invitations
“Dit is mijn moeder”
Daily Life
Your day from morning to night
Morning · At Work · Evening · Free Time · Chores
“Ik word om zeven uur wakker”
Food & Cooking
Groceries, the kitchen and eating at home
At the Supermarket · Fruit & Vegetables · In the Fridge · Simple Cooking · Eating at Home
“Waar ligt het brood?”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Mag ik and kan ik. Mag ik asks permission, kan ik asks whether something is possible. Both push the other verb to the end: mag ik het passen, kan ik het ruilen.
- Heeft u…?. A question to a shop opens with the verb and the polite u, which keeps the -t: heeft u, kunt u, mag ik. There is no do in Dutch.
- Comparing with -er. Add -er to compare: groot becomes groter, mooi becomes mooier, oud becomes ouder. Before a noun it takes an extra -e: een grotere maat.
- Verbs with terug. Terug means back and clips onto verbs: terugbrengen, terugkrijgen, teruggeven. In a simple sentence terug breaks off and waits at the end.
A2 Section 3: Making PlansWeather, feelings, home, clothes and your phone
Weather & Plans
Talk about today and tomorrow
Weather · Seasons · Making Plans · Trips · Changing Plans
“Het is zonnig vandaag”
Feelings & Opinions
Say what you think and feel
Feelings · Opinions · Likes & Dislikes · Compliments · Wishes
“Ik ben blij”
Home & Living
Your place and the people around it
My Home · Renting · Problems at Home · Neighbors · Guests
“Ik woon in een appartement”
Phone & Internet
Calls, messages and Wi-Fi
Phone Calls · Messages · Wi-Fi & Data · Apps & Photos · Tech Problems
“Kan ik je later bellen?”
What to Wear
Clothes, the weather and your own style
Getting Dressed · Dressing for the Weather · What Suits You · Looking After Clothes · Style & Taste
“Ik kleed me aan”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Het for the weather. Weather takes the empty subject het: het regent, het waait, het is koud. Dutch often has a whole verb where English needs it is plus an adjective.
- The present is the future. Dutch makes plans in the plain present tense. A time word does all the work: wat doe je morgen, we vertrekken zaterdag, ik ben maandag terug.
- Zullen we…?. Zullen we is the Dutch let's and always ends in an infinitive. Zal ik offers to do the thing yourself: zal ik je jas aannemen?
- Time first, verb still second. Open with a time word and the subject moves behind the verb: in de winter sneeuwt het, in maart waait het hard. The verb never leaves slot two.
A2 Section 4: Out & AboutTravel, driving, hobbies and celebrations
Travel
From the airport to the road
Check-in · Security · On the Plane · Arrival · Renting a Car
“Alstublieft, mijn paspoort”
Around Town
Errands and everyday services
Post Office · Hair Salon · Gym & Pool · Library · Laundry & Repairs
“Ik wil een pakket versturen”
Sports & Hobbies
What you do for fun
Sports · Music & Movies · Books & Games · Outdoors · Hobbies at Home
“Doe je aan sport?”
Celebrations
Parties, gifts and holidays
Parties · Gifts · Holidays · Weddings & Babies · Traditions
“Je bent uitgenodigd”
On the Road
Driving, parking and getting around on two wheels
Driving · Parking · At the Gas Station · Problems on the Road · Walking & Cycling
“Kun je me naar huis brengen?”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Alstublieft and alsjeblieft. Alstublieft is the polite please and also here you are when you hand something over. Alsjeblieft is the je form, and graag is the lighter please.
- Yes-no questions. Put the verb first and the question is finished: vertrekt de vlucht op tijd, mag dit, is er een zwembad. There is no do or does to add.
- How long you stay. After blijven a length of time needs no preposition: ik blijf een week. Voor plus a length looks ahead instead: voor drie dagen.
- Te inside the verb. A separable verb splits around te: aangeven becomes aan te geven, meenemen becomes mee te nemen. The te lands inside the word, not in front of it.
A2 Section 5: Time TravelWork, the past, the future and real talk
Work & Study
At the office and in class
My Job · At the Office · Meetings · At School · Applying for a Job
“Wat voor werk doe je?”
Talking About the Past
Yesterday, last weekend and long ago
Yesterday · Last Weekend · Childhood · Experiences · Telling a Story
“Wat heb je gisteren gedaan?”
Future & Goals
Plans, dreams and promises
Tomorrow · Goals · Dreams · Promises & Offers · Predictions
“Morgen werk ik thuis”
Real Conversations
Keep a chat going like a native
Keeping It Going · Reacting · Asking Nicely · Disagreeing Politely · Saying Goodbye
“Hoe gaat het?”
Making Friends
How you met, staying in touch and saying yes or no
How We Met · Keeping in Touch · Inviting · Saying Yes or No · Getting Closer
“We kennen elkaar via een vriend”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Werk, baan, beroep. Het werk is the work itself and has no plural. De baan is the post you were hired for, and het beroep is the profession on your papers.
- Studeren and leren. Studeren is being at university. Leren is studying for tomorrow's test and also learning a skill. They are everyday words but never swappable.
- Zullen we and laten we. Zullen we asks the room, laten we decides for it. Both end in an infinitive: zullen we beginnen, laten we verdergaan.
- Questions without a verb. Dutch trims a short question right down and leaves the verb understood: nog vragen, nog nieuws, hoe laat, welk spoor.
B1 Section 6: Connecting IdeasLonger sentences with because, but and so
Because & But
Give reasons and contrasts
Giving Reasons · Contrasts · Consequences · In Order · Adding Ideas
“Ik ben te laat door het verkeer”
Describing Places
Say what a place is like
My Neighborhood · In the City · In Nature · Inside a Place · First Impressions
“Ik woon in een rustige buurt”
Step by Step
Explain how to do something
In the Kitchen · Following a Recipe · How It Works · Detailed Directions · Rules & Signs
“Kun je me het mes even aangeven?”
Comparing & Choosing
Say which one and why
Better or Worse · The Best of All · Which One? · Price & Quality · Making a Decision
“Deze is beter dan die”
Giving Advice
Should, could and if I were you
Asking for Advice · Suggestions · Warnings · Encouragement · Health Advice
“Wat zou jij doen in mijn plaats?”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Omdat and want. Both mean because. Omdat sends its verb to the end of the clause: omdat ik ziek was. Want is a joiner and leaves the order alone: want ik was ziek.
- Door and vanwege. Door plus a noun gives the cause: door het verkeer. Vanwege is its slightly more formal twin. For a whole clause you still need omdat.
- Dus and daarom. Dus means so and leaves the word order untouched. Daarom claims the first slot, so the verb has to follow it: daarom was ik te laat.
- Eerst, daarna, ten slotte. Each step word opens the sentence and pushes the verb into second place: eerst moeten we, daarna kunnen we, ten slotte gaan we.
B1 Section 7: Handling SituationsProblems, interviews, money and paperwork
Complaints & Problems
Say what went wrong, politely
At the Hotel · At the Restaurant · Faulty Products · Late & Lost · Getting It Fixed
“Ik ben bang dat er een probleem is met mijn kamer”
Job Interview
Talk about yourself with confidence
About Yourself · Strengths & Weaknesses · Your Experience · Questions to Ask · Salary & Start Date
“Bedankt voor de uitnodiging voor dit gesprek”
Money Matters
Accounts, bills and transfers
Opening an Account · Paying Bills · Sending Money · Budgeting · Fees & Insurance
“Ik wil graag een bankrekening openen”
Paperwork
Appointments, forms and documents
Making an Appointment · Filling In Forms · At the Office · Documents · Deadlines & Renewals
“Ik wil graag een afspraak maken”
Living Abroad
Settle in a new country
Finding an Apartment · Utilities & Repairs · Meeting Locals · Settling In · Local Customs
“Is de borg één maand of twee?”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Softening a complaint. Ik ben bang dat, sorry maar, er lijkt ... te zijn. Dutch warns you before it complains; going straight to the problem sounds aggressive.
- Al and nog niet. Al plus the present covers have been doing: we wachten al een half uur. Nog niet is the not yet of something that should have happened.
- Kwijt, stuk, op. Three small words carry a whole problem: ik ben het kwijt, het is stukgegaan, het is op. Each of them closes the sentence it belongs to.
- A split verb around a modal. With a modal in the middle a separable verb comes apart into two pieces: terug kunnen brengen, terug moest komen. Prefix first, infinitive last.
B2 Section 8: Speak Your MindOpinions, stories, what-ifs and idioms
Debating Opinions
Argue your point and listen
Strong Opinions · Both Sides · Persuading · Doubts · Changing Your Mind
“Als je het mij vraagt, is dit de verkeerde aanpak”
Telling Stories
Make people listen
Setting the Scene · What Happened Next · Surprises & Twists · Feelings in the Story · The Moral
“Dit gebeurde een paar jaar geleden”
News & Society
Talk about the world
In the News · The Environment · Technology & Us · Work & Life Balance · Traditions & Change
“Heb je gehoord wat er in het centrum is gebeurd?”
What If
Imagine, regret and wish
If I Had Time · Imagining · Regrets · Wishes · Plan B
“Als ik morgen tijd heb, bel ik je”
Idioms & Expressions
Sound like a native
Everyday Idioms · Feelings in Idioms · Casual Talk · Being Funny · Sounding Natural
“Het kost een rib uit je lijf”
Guidebook: 20 grammar notes
- Daar … mee, er … over. A preposition plus it becomes one word, daarmee or erover, and then splits around the sentence: daar ben ik het mee eens, ik heb er een artikel over gelezen.
- Aan de ene kant. Both sides take aan de ... kant: aan de ene kant, aan de andere kant, van jouw kant. Each opens the sentence, so the verb has to follow it.
- Het ligt eraan. Where English says it depends, Dutch says het ligt eraan or het hangt ervan af. Both split around whatever clause comes next.
- Wel, toch, gewoon. Wel confirms against a doubt, toch pushes back, gewoon means simply. These three carry most of the tone of a Dutch argument.
Speak Dutch with an AI partner
The same 385 scenarios work in Dutch. Your partner answers in Dutch, rates each message Perfect, Good or Revision needed, and every scenario has goals to tick off. A few to start with:
- Greet the barista
- Order your preferred coffee
- Ask if they have any pastries
- Thank the barista for their service
- Greet the local person
- Explain what kind of hotel you're looking for
- Ask about the location of a recommended hotel
- Thank the local for their recommendations
- Greet the store employee
- Ask where to find the produce aisle
- Ask about the price of apples
- Ask where the checkout counters are
- Greet the team members
- Share an update about your current project
- Ask a question about another team member's project
- Volunteer to take on a new task
- Greet the gym staff member
- Ask about membership options
- Inquire about the gym facilities
- Request a tour of the gym
- Greet the local person
- Ask where the nearest bus stop is
- Ask for clarification on one of the directions
- Thank the local for their help
18 Dutch stories, read aloud
Short stories at A1, A2 and B1, each read by one of the characters, with questions at the end.
A1
- 🚆 De Trein Is Te Laat Read by Maya
- 🐈 De Kat van de Buurvrouw Read by Pip
- 💼 Eerste Werkdag Read by Nova
- ☕️ Twee Koffie Read by Ken
- 🌧️ Geen Paraplu Read by Milo
- 🥐 De Bakker op de Hoek Read by Rosa
A2
- 🔑 Buitengesloten Read by Maya
- 🎂 Een Taart voor Papa Read by Nova
- 🚌 De Verkeerde Bus Read by Milo
- 📦 Het Pakket Read by Ken
- 🏖️ Een Koude Dag aan Zee Read by Pip
- 🎸 De Gitaar in de Etalage Read by Rosa
B1
- 📸 De Foto op de Koelkast Read by Maya
- 🏡 Het Huis Dat Verkocht Werd Read by Ken
- 🎤 Open Podium Read by Nova
- 🧭 De Lange Weg Naar Huis Read by Rosa
- 🌱 De Balkontuin Read by Nova
- ☎️ Het Telefoontje van Oma Read by Maya
Mia is op het station. Mia is at the station.
Het is acht uur ’s ochtends. It is eight o'clock in the morning.
From “De Trein Is Te Laat”
Dutch course questions
Can I learn Dutch with Fluently from zero?
Yes. The Dutch course starts with greetings and introductions and builds up over 8 sections to B2-level topics. If you already know some Dutch, the placement step lets you skip ahead.
How do I practice speaking Dutch with AI?
Open Practice, pick a scenario such as ordering in a café or checking into a hotel, and chat or call in Dutch. Your AI partner answers in Dutch, rates each of your messages and suggests a more natural way to say it. The Study tab also has a Speak drill that scores your pronunciation of the phrases you have learned.
How long does the Dutch course take?
It has 248 lessons. Most lessons take a few minutes, so at one or two lessons a day the course runs for several months. The app keeps a daily streak and sends reminders if you want them.
Is the Dutch course free?
The first 3 lessons are free. Fluently Pro unlocks the rest of the course, unlimited conversations and calls, and the stories.