Day courses

The NT2 department organises intensive day courses in Dutch for highly educated people. These day courses consist of four levels, each of which lasts for nine weeks. The courses are designed to attain the B2/C1 level of the Common European Framework of Reference. During the day courses participants gradually prepare for the State Examination of Dutch as a Second Language, programme II. They work together with other participants to rapidly improve their Dutch language skills. Part of the course involves self-study; the other part involves classes taught at VU. These classes focus on those aspects that require the presence of a teacher and fellow course attendees, like the training of oral skills. 

Prepare yourself with a day course for the integration exam.

The self-study component of the day courses involves, for instance, the learning of vocabulary and training of listening skills by means of a computer programme (either at home or in our computer room). Every course ends with a final test, the outcome of which will determine whether students can move on to the next level course. All course attendees who, upon completion of the course, have participated in at least 85% of the lessons will receive a certificate.

Each year the department organises a number of special activities or excursions for students in the day courses. There is, for instance, the annual Dutch Sinterklaas feast and a skating event at the Jaap Edenbaan ice rink. Last year’s activities also included a visit to the Zaanse Schans (a traditional open air museum) and Volendam.

Below are the main details concerning the intensive day courses for people who have completed their secondary education. Please also read our general terms and conditions before submitting your application.

• Entrance requirements

Requirements for this course are a General Certificate of Secondary Education and the ability to speak English, German or French.

• Intake

If you already have (some) knowledge of Dutch and have registered for a day course, you will be invited to sit an intake test at the NT2 department. As this test is designed to assess your current language skills, it requires no preparation. Based on the results of the test and an interview with a teacher we will determine which course level best suits your needs. Sitting the intake test is free.

• Fees

Please consult our brochure for more information about the course fees.
Please note that these fees do not include books and CD-ROMS, which need to be purchased separately. Some activities or excursions require a personal contribution from course attendees.

• Application

To apply for a day course please use the application form for day courses. Your application will become definitive after a short interview, to be held during our visiting hours. The purpose of this interview is to determine which course is most suitable for you and when you can take an intake test. Please note that you will not receive a separate invitation for the interview and that it does not require an appointment. All you have to do is come and see us during the visiting hours in order to finalise your application. Our visiting hours take place every Monday between 3 and 5 p.m. in VU main building (room 8A-40). You are kindly requested to bring along identity papers (passport, driving licence, or identity card), (a copy of) your diplomas, and certificates of previous courses in Dutch (when applicable).

• For more information

You can find our new brochure here soon.

Would you like to enroll in a bachelor, pre-master or master course at VU  after your Dutch course? Please consult our brochure NT2-VASVU 2011-2012.

Department of Dutch as a Second Language at VU University Amsterdam. For fast and effective Dutch courses and improvement of the quality of language education