How do I prepare for the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I listening exam (Luisteren)?
The NT2 Programma I listening exam (Luisteren) uses everyday Dutch at the B1 level, about work, study and daily life. Every fragment plays only once, so you cannot listen again.
The best free way to get ready is to listen to a lot of real Dutch at the B1 level. There is a free pack of 99 B1 videos below, at a speaking speed close to the test.
Advice from an expert teacher
Dutch teacher and speaking coach since 2013 · Founder of the Dutch Speaking Academy
The listening advice on this page comes from Mariska van der Meij, a Dutch teacher and speaking coach since 2013. She founded the Dutch Speaking Academy near Amsterdam, where she helps internationals who understand a lot of Dutch but still switch to English the moment somebody speaks to them. More than 1,000 students have worked with her.
From a Dutch teacher
How should I prepare for the NT2 Programma I listening test?
First, know what is coming. Luisteren takes 90 minutes and asks about 40 questions on 5 or more listening texts. Each question gives you 3 or 4 answers, and only one of them is right. You get about 25 seconds to read a question before its fragment starts, and 1 to 3 of the fragments are short video clips. And every fragment plays only once. Goethe and DELF replay some parts, but this exam never does, so you have to catch it the first time.
So before you sign up for the exam, take some time to do a practice exam. The official ones are free and you can do them at home on your own computer. That gives you a clear idea of the level, and it helps you check whether you are ready for it.
Practise at exam speed, not at podcast speed
The listening in the exam goes quite fast. It helps to practise a lot with the practice exams and with real video, and to move away from podcasts that are spoken slowly on purpose. Those are lovely when you start out, but they will not get your ear ready for the speed of the test.
The people in the fragments talk about work, study and daily life at the speed they would use with anyone else. That is normal Dutch, and it is what you want to spend your practice time on.
Choose videos at your level, with a little challenge
Make sure you practise with videos at your level, but pick ones that push your listening a little. If everything is easy, you are not training anything. If you understand almost nothing, you are only guessing.
And if you can, practise with a Dutch person or a teacher who asks you questions about details from the material you are working with. Having to answer somebody makes you listen much harder than you would on your own.
The 20 second listening drill
Many podcasts and videos come with subtitles or a transcript. Here is how I would use them. Take a short piece, about 20 seconds long, and work through it like this:
Listen once without looking at the text. What did you get? Which details did you understand?
Say out loud what you heard, or let somebody ask you a detailed question about it.
Listen again, still without the text, and see whether your answer changes.
Listen a third time while you read the transcript or the subtitles.
Move on to the next piece and start again.
Do this for 30 minutes at most, and give yourself a break after. It takes a lot of energy to focus this hard, so take good care of yourself and do not overdo it. It is a great way to train your listening and to get used to picking out the information you need.
You can practise this in real life too
You do not need a screen for it. On the train, while you wait for your coffee at your favourite coffee place, or when people around you are talking, listen in the same way. What is this about? What did they decide? It all counts.
Dutch people use a lot of filler words
We say uhm, zeg maar ("like"), weet je wel ("you know"), nou ("well") and hoe zal ik het zeggen ("how should I put this") all the time. They fill the silence while we think, and they carry almost no meaning.
For the exam, focus on getting the answer right. Try to filter those words out and listen for the key words you have just read in the question.
A good week has both things in it. Watch real Dutch at your level on most days so your ear gets used to normal speed, and do a full practice exam now and then so the format holds no surprises on the day. Be patient with yourself, and enjoy it. Succes!
Why this level
Why do people take Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I?
Programma I proves Dutch at the B1 level. People commonly need that for:
Study at mbo level, or work at mbo-3 or mbo-4 level
Naturalisation (Dutch citizenship), where the NT2 diploma at B1 or B2 counts
Integration (inburgering), where the B1-route is the standard route
Do you want to study or work at hbo or university level? That asks for B2, so start with the NT2 Programma II listening page.
Free · 99 videos · 3 hours 53 minutes
Your free NT2 Programma I listening pack
Here are 99 short videos by real native speakers at the B1 level, at a speaking speed close to the exam (around 200 words a minute). They are the Dutch of the Netherlands, the variety the exam uses, not Flemish Dutch. Most of the words are inside the 97% most common spoken Dutch words, so they match the kind of language the test uses. Together they are about 3 hours 53 minutes of listening practice for the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma I. They are all free to watch below.
Leven met een kind in een tiny house
Rijnmond
What you'll practice
A tour of a family tiny house, with amounts like "tweehonderdvijftig euro" and "vierendertig vierkante meter" spoken clearly.
Een dagje Tilburg: tips voor een gezellig bezoek
NS
What you'll practice
A day trip video about Tilburg where locals give tips, with recommendations like "zou ik zeker de Piershaven bezoeken".
Vrouw verliest 2400 euro aan oplichters
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A regional news report about phone scammers, with amounts like "€2400" and direct quotes from the victim's story.
Vijf wetenschappelijke tips tegen keuzestress
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
A clear explainer with five tips against choice stress, ordered with "Tip 1" and numbers like "20 procent".
Niels Wenemars wint kaasrolwedstrijd in Engeland
NOS Stories
What you'll practice
A short news report about a cheese rolling race in England, with connectives like "maar" and "eigenlijk" to explain the rules.
Boodschappen doen in 2020 vs nu: inflatie shock
LOVE de LEVE
What you'll practice
A supermarket vlog comparing prices with a 2020 receipt, full of percentages like "zesendertig procent omhoog".
Leven in een tiny house van vijftien vierkante meter
Rijnmond
What you'll practice
An interview and tour of a tiny house, with measurements like "vijftien vierkante meter" and rooms described in plain Dutch.
Een dagje Assen: tips voor stad en natuur
NS
What you'll practice
A day trip video about Assen with tips from locals and directions like "vijf minuten lopen vanaf het station".
Fietsvakantie door Sicilië: Palermo, Erice en Marsala
De Vakantiefietser
What you'll practice
A travel video about cycling through Sicilië, with heights and distances like "250 meter" and "8 kilometer" clearly explained.
Weekendje in het champagnegebied met vriendinnen
Dylan Haegens Shorts
What you'll practice
A travel vlog about a weekend in the French champagne region, with "daarna" and "trouwens" linking the stops of the trip.
Waarom Nederland nu zo droog is
NOS op 3
What you'll practice
A reporter tours the drought by boat and on land, with a climate reporter, a houseboat owner and a grower answering in turn, so you hear the same topic handled by four different voices.
Nederlanders verhuizen naar Duitsland voor hun droomhuis
EenVandaag
What you'll practice
A news interview about moving to Germany for a house, with prices like "vierhonderdvijftigduizend euro" and questions with "hoeveel".
Utrechters beantwoorden 7 persoonlijke vragen op straat
Easy Dutch
What you'll practice
Street interviews in Utrecht where people finish sentences like "ik ben" and "ik was", clear everyday questions and answers.
Nieuws in makkelijke taal over opvang, natuurbrand en rookverbod
NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal
What you'll practice
A news broadcast in easy Dutch about child shelters and nature fires, with numbers like "7000 kinderen" and "bijvoorbeeld".
Tips voor betere balans en veiligheid op de fiets
VeiligVerkeerNL
What you'll practice
A how-to video about keeping balance on a bike, with instructions like "zorg ervoor dat" and the connective "daarom".
Tips voor een succesvol sollicitatiegesprek en voorbereiding
Utrecht University
What you'll practice
An explainer about job interviews at work, with numbered tips and the question "Waarom wil je bij deze organisatie werken".
Slaaptips voor betere prestaties op school
Uitleganimatie
What you'll practice
An animated explainer with numbered sleep tips for school days, using time phrases like "'s avonds" and "op dezelfde tijd".
Drie enge dieren die er echt bestaan
Dylanhaegens
What you'll practice
An explainer about three strange animals, using "waarschijnlijk" and "namelijk" while describing what makes each one scary.
Heimwee naar Schokland en de verdwenen Zuiderzee
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
A documentary about the island "Schokland" and the old "Zuiderzee", with the year "18 59" in clear narration about history.
Vrouwen delen hun verhaal op de Amsterdamse vrouwenmars
AT5
What you'll practice
Street interviews at a women's march in Amsterdam, where speakers use "eigenlijk" and "belangrijk" to explain their personal reasons.
Harrie zet tachtig klokken op tijd voor zomertijd
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report about a man setting eighty clocks for summer time, with time phrases like "een uur vooruit".
Joy Beune verslaat Jenning de Boo op de 3000 meter
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A short sport report about a skating duel, where clear narration explains the race with "in de laatste ronde".
Máxima-effect: meer vrouwen kiezen voor het leger
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A news report about women choosing army work, with numbers like "1 op de 6" reservists.
Wonen op de Dam in hartje Amsterdam
FanClub Centrum
What you'll practice
An apartment tour on the Dam in Amsterdam, where the resident describes rooms and views using "natuurlijk" and "bijzonder".
Hondenzwembad en aquatherapie voor revaliderende viervoeters
Elma Bakker; Dogfysion
What you'll practice
A news report about a swimming pool for dogs, with clear narration and sequence words like "Eerst even onder de douche".
De vijf mooiste fietsregio’s van Nederland
Voordeeluitjes.nl
What you'll practice
A top five video about cycling regions, with ordinals like "op nummer vijf" and distances like "vijftienhonderd kilometer".
Waarom vieze spijkerbroeken ineens een modetrend zijn
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A news report with street interviews about a jeans trend, including prices like "meer dan 1000 euro".
Anna opent haar taartenzaak met Turkse baklava-croissant
RTV Utrecht
What you'll practice
A short news report about opening a cake shop, with the phrase "na een jaar lang hard werken" and the connective "want".
Elektrische fietsen, accu’s opladen en laadpunten bij horeca
Connect
What you'll practice
A news report about charging e-bike batteries, with numbers like "vier komma twee miljoen" and advice built on "want" and "toch".
Rondleiding: aan tafel in de grote balzaal
Koninklijk Huis
What you'll practice
A palace tour of a grand ballroom, with "vroeger" and "tegenwoordig" comparing candles then and led light now.
Dagje naar een Pixar tentoonstelling in Brussel
Dylan Haegens Shorts
What you'll practice
A vlog about visiting a Pixar exhibition in Brussels, with an honest review using "maar" and "dus" to weigh pros and cons.
De kern van de Nederlandse cultuur
Easy Dutch
What you'll practice
A calm explainer about Dutch culture and daily habits, with clear opinion links like "juist" and "maar" in every section.
Wat zit er in mijn Lowlands tas?
veggilaine
What you'll practice
A vlog showing every item packed for a festival, with "allereerst" and "het allerbelangrijkste" ordering the concrete everyday objects.
Hoe Nederland zijn fietskennis met de wereld deelt
Olaf Koens
What you'll practice
A news explainer about Dutch cycling knowledge going abroad, full of numbers like "vijftien miljard kilometer" and the connective "omdat".
Jongeren gooien waterballon naar rijdende auto
EditieNL
What you'll practice
A news item about a dangerous waterballon thrown at a car, with past tense storytelling using "toen" and "dus".
Verloskundige geflitst op weg naar bevalling
EditieNL
What you'll practice
A news item about a midwife fined for speeding, with numbers like "39 waar ze 30 mocht" and the connective "dus".
Koningsdag en thuiswerken in coronatijd
Bertine Muller Presenteert
What you'll practice
A daily life vlog about working from home during corona, using "eigenlijk" and time phrases like "elke dag".
Dieren opzetten als hobby: cursus taxidermie bij Sanne
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A news report about a taxidermy hobby course, using "steeds meer" to describe how interest in it grows.
Angst in flat na politie-inval en zoektocht naar schutter
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report where neighbours react to a police search in their flat, using "toch" and "omdat" to explain their fear.
Leven als brus: Thekla en haar broer Jonas
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A youth news report about living with a disabled brother, with everyday phrases like "best wel" and "lastiger".
Osdorpers reageren op vertrek van hun tuincentrum
AT5
What you'll practice
Local people give opinions about their garden centre closing, a street interview with "jammer" and "te duur" in real reactions.
Buurtbewoners reageren op vertrek tuincentrum Osdorp
AT5
What you'll practice
Street interviews about a garden centre leaving the neighbourhood, with opinions using "jammer" and "omdat het veel te duur is".
Rouwende kroonkraanvogel na dodelijk ongeluk op de A2
AT5
What you'll practice
A news report about a mourning crane after a road accident, with clear narration and the phrase "band voor het leven".
Vakantiedialyse op camping geeft nierpatiënten vakantiegevoel
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report about dialysis at a holiday park, where patients describe the calm with words like "vakantiegevoel".
Een monument voor doodnormale maar bijzondere dagen
Het Klokhuis
What you'll practice
A staged conversation between two friends about everyday special moments, using "eigenlijk" and the time "half zes".
Mag AI zomaar jouw stem namaken?
Het Klokhuis
What you'll practice
A short acted scene about AI copying voices, with natural phone phrases like "wat goed dat je opneemt".
Van koffieprut naar Groningse oesterzwam bitterballen
RTV Noord
What you'll practice
A news report about coffee waste becoming mushroom snacks, with clear steps and amounts like "vierhonderd kilo koffieprut per dag".
Psychische problemen uitgelegd met een toren van blokjes
Frank Godschalk
What you'll practice
An explainer about mental health uses a block tower demo and the polite "u" form, with the question "Wat is de oplossing hier?"
Koningsdagvlog met pechduivel, motorschade en reddende engelen
ANWB
What you'll practice
A vlog about roadside help on Koningsdag, with everyday connectives like "eigenlijk" and "trouwens" while a broken car gets towed.
Studeren met een assistentiehond aan de hogeschool
HKU Utrecht
What you'll practice
A student explains in an interview how her assistance dog helps at school, using "want" to give reasons.
Zebrazoemer helpt blinden veilig oversteken bij verkeerslichten
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
An old news report about a buzzer helping blind people cross the road, using "want" and "namelijk" to explain how it works.
Wat koolhydraten doen in je lichaam
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
A short health explainer about koolhydraten in food, naming "suiker, zetmeel en vezels" and what each does in your body.
Koningsdag gezellig maken met oranje decoratie
Aline Sietsema
What you'll practice
A home vlog about orange Koningsdag decoration, with "dus" and "want" explaining choices while she shows each item.
Dikke huisdieren op dieet bij de dierenarts
Dierenziekenhuis Eindhoven - Dierenarts Eindhoven
What you'll practice
A news report about pets on a diet at the vet, with percentages like "zevenenzestig procent" and simple health advice.
De Brielse maskerade als eeuwenoude traditie uitgelegd
Rijnmond
What you'll practice
A news report about a masked town tradition, with reasons using "omdat" and numbers like "zeshonderd jaar".
Taalmaatjes in Nijmegen: samen Nederlands en cultuur leren
RN7
What you'll practice
A news report about language buddies in Nijmegen, with the everyday question "Hoe was je week?" and the connective "daarom".
10 tips om later een baan te vinden
Meester Jesper
What you'll practice
A teacher explains in ten tips how to find a job, with work words like "vacature", "salaris" and "solliciteren".
Egels in de opvang en hoe je ze helpt
Egelopvang Zoetermeer
What you'll practice
A report from a hedgehog shelter, with numbers like "zeshonderd egels" and advice using "bijvoorbeeld" about helping animals.
Kroketten proeven in de Amsterdamse snackbar
NH Nieuws
What you'll practice
An interview in a snackbar about making kroketten, with tasting talk and numbers like "vijftien procent rundvlees".
Een zondag bij Fort Altena: ontdek de waterlinie
Belevingsvlog
What you'll practice
A tour of an old fort with clear history facts, dates like "achttien zevenenveertig" and reasons to visit.
over een nieuw bed en een nieuw huis dromen
RTL
What you'll practice
A calm conversation about wishes for a new home, practising polite requests like "ik wil heel graag een nieuw bed".
Moeten jongeren al vanaf 16 jaar mogen stemmen?
NPO Zapp
What you'll practice
An explainer asking if teenagers should vote from "16", with years like "19 72" and the connective "namelijk".
Renée vertelt over pesten, bedreiging en jezelf blijven
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
An interview where a twelve year old describes school bullying, linking events with "toen" and "want" and giving simple advice.
Ome Kees stopt na zestig jaar met de kermis
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A short interview about stopping work after sixty years, with polite questions like "Wat gaat u dan nu doen".
Twijfel tussen Assen en Haren bij huis kopen
RTL
What you'll practice
A house hunting conversation about choosing between two towns, with opinion phrases like "ik neig wel heel erg naar haren".
Pratende koffiezetapparaten en hoe we met machines omgaan
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A presentation about talking coffee machines with a live demo, using the phrase "het ligt eigenlijk voor de hand".
Hoe Almere veranderde van water naar stad
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
A history explainer about how Almere grew from water into a city, with numbers like "200.000 inwoners" and dates.
Over bevalling, eerste weken en trots moederschap
Heuvelland Vandaag
What you'll practice
An interview with a new mother about the birth and first weeks, using "eigenlijk" and "supertrots" naturally.
Normen, waarden en beleefdheid in verschillende culturen
Mr. T's History
What you'll practice
An explainer about norms and values in different cultures, with examples introduced by "bijvoorbeeld" and contrasts made with "terwijl".
Wat zijn normen en waarden?
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
An animated explainer about norms and values in society, with example sentences that use "terwijl" to compare cultures.
Studeren in coronatijd en omscholen naar ict
TechMeUp
What you'll practice
A vlog about studying ICT next to a job, where "Daarom" introduces why she now works three days a week.
Oma’s ontdekken QR-codes tijdens een boswandeling
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
A conversation during a forest walk where older women scan a "QR-code" and ask how it works, using "eigenlijk".
Sollicitatiegesprek voor een baantje als afwashulp
GTST Highlights
What you'll practice
A soap scene of a job interview for a dishwasher job, with words like "ervaring", "referenties" and "beter te vroeg dan te laat".
Hoe AI je dagelijks leven ongemerkt beïnvloed
De Wereld Van AI
What you'll practice
An explainer about AI in everyday routines, from phones to shopping, using "bijvoorbeeld" and "zoals" to introduce clear examples.
Satirische sketch over bellen met de huisartspraktijk
fleur.overgaag
What you'll practice
A satirical sketch about phoning the doctor, packed with real phrases like "een afspraak maken" and "kies 1 voor openingstijden".
Wat diversiteit is en waarom het belangrijk is
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
A short explainer about diversiteit in society, giving reasons with "daarom" and "toch" in clear standard Dutch.
Kees vertelt over zijn documentaire en zelfstandig wonen
Videoland
What you'll practice
A calm interview in a photo studio where Kees talks about his documentary and living alone, using "want" and "doordat".
Expeditie Robinson reageert op online haat tegen deelnemers
NOS Stories
What you'll practice
A short news item about online hate around a TV show, with opinions explained using "want" and "natuurlijk".
Hoe we ons droomhuis in Zweden hebben gekocht
Nikee Sacha
What you'll practice
A vlog about buying a house in Sweden, telling the steps in order with "eerst", "toen" and "de volgende dag".
Wat maakt jou gelukkig? Straatinterviews in Nederland
Easy Languages
What you'll practice
Street interviews asking "wat maakt jou gelukkig?", with many people giving short everyday answers about "vrienden" and "familie".
Sinterklaas in Maastricht: op de boot tussen de kinderen
MST film productions
What you'll practice
A video of Sinterklaas arriving by boat in Maastricht, with lively small talk like "Vind je het gezellig".
Fietsen langs de nieuwe Hollandse waterlinie
Fietsvlogger | Slow Miles & Bike Travel
What you'll practice
A cycling tour vlog along old Dutch forts, with numbers like "45 in totaal" and "3 dagen".
Toch gezakt op mijn eindexamen wiskunde
Amber Dokter
What you'll practice
A vlog about failing a school exam, with grades like "5,6" and the time phrase "8 jaar geleden".
Uitleg over de dekolonisatie na de Tweede Wereldoorlog
Martin
What you'll practice
A short history explainer about decolonisation, full of years like "19 45" and countries that became independent.
Flitspaal afgeplakt na 10.000 boetes
Omroep Gelderland
What you'll practice
A regional news report about a sabotaged speed camera, with big numbers like "13000 verkeersovertredingen" in short interviews.
Koningsdag op pad met de ANWB Wegenwacht
ANWB
What you'll practice
A vlog of a roadside mechanic working on "koningsdag", using "dus" and "want" to explain a breakdown in a parking garage.
Tips van een psycholoog voor betere slaap
Thuisbuis
What you'll practice
A psychologist explains how to sleep better, with question forms like "Hoe laat ga ik naar bed?" and everyday examples.
Lelijke schoenen gekocht voor Sam
maximeandsophie
What you'll practice
A shopping vlog about buying cheap shoes, with prices like "€40" and "van 35 naar 30" in casual conversation.
Wanneer er één parachute te weinig is
JennaMinniee
What you'll practice
A comedy sketch on a plane where passengers argue over parachutes, each giving a reason introduced with "dus".
Boer zoekt vrouw: hoe vieren de stellen kerst?
NLvideogroup
What you'll practice
A TV report about farming couples planning Christmas, with time phrases like "1 keer in de week" and "tweede kerstdag".
Tweelingbroers, lengteverschil en samen spelen met beperkingen
NPO Zapp
What you'll practice
An interview with twin brothers playing a card game, talking about height difference and rules with "omdat".
Leven met het syndroom van Down en vriendschap
NPO Zapp
What you'll practice
A classroom video where a girl explains Down syndrome in her "spreekbeurt", with quiz questions and the word "eigenlijk".
Zwanger werken bij Laurens: een dagje mee
Esther Sturrus | Mom of Luna
What you'll practice
A work vlog from a care home party day, using "namelijk" to explain what the team is celebrating.
Met 3D-printer een speelse to-do lijst voor Nami
Dylan Haegens Shorts
What you'll practice
A father shows a 3D printed task list for his toddler, with daily routines like "tanden poetsen" and the connective "dus".
BN’ers over hun duurste kledingstukken op de rode loper
De Telegraaf
What you'll practice
Red carpet interviews about clothes and prices, with amounts like "3 euro 40" and "3000 euro" in quick everyday questions.
Lisa ontmoet haar commissiegenoten weer bij Perikles
Utrecht University
What you'll practice
A student talks about her university committee and meeting friends again, with fillers like "gewoon" and "toch" you hear constantly in real speech.
Overwerken, sparen voor je rijbewijs en toch genieten
Aardrijkskunde Kennisclips
What you'll practice
Street interviews where young people talk about work hours and saving, with numbers like "zestien uur" and "twintig uur".
In de proefkeuken: bijzondere kroketten en bitterballen proeven
Nederland Proeft
What you'll practice
A kitchen visit about making bitterballen, following the steps with "eerst" and "dan" and questions like "Wat gebeurt er dan?".
Krullen stylen met gel, diffuser en brush coiling
Dafne Muilwijk
What you'll practice
A hair styling how to with clear steps ordered by "als eerst" and "daarna", spoken quite fast.
The test
What does the B1 listening test look like?
The listening exam (Luisteren) takes 90 minutes and has about 40 multiple-choice questions on 5 or more listening texts. Each question has 3 or 4 options, and exactly one is correct. Programma I and Programma II have the same format; the difference is the level of the Dutch. Here is what you get:
Audio fragments
Short recordings about situations at work, during study and in daily life, for example conversations, instructions and short talks.
Once
Video fragments
1 to 3 of the fragments are short film clips (filmpjes), each with its own question.
Once
Every fragment plays once. The audio starts by itself, and you cannot pause it or play it again.
You get about 25 seconds to read the question and the answer options before each fragment starts.
The Dutch is the standard Dutch of the Netherlands, spoken at a normal everyday speed. Many learners are surprised by the speed after slow textbook audio.
Level and words
What level and how many words do I need?
Listening needs far fewer words than reading. Research shows that about 3,000 common words cover roughly 95% of normal speech, and the first 1,000 words cover most of what people say.
Video is the easiest way to understand, because the pictures help you guess the meaning. So you do not need a very large vocabulary. You need the common words and a lot of listening practice at your level.
Watch videos with visual cues, on YouTube or here on Reelang.
Based on research
Nation (2006) About 3,000 common word families cover roughly 95% of everyday spoken English; reading needs far more.
Webb (2021) The most frequent 1,000 words alone cover most of what people say in speech.
Durbahn et al. (2024) Video is easier to understand at a given vocabulary size, because the pictures help you guess.
Ways to practice
Common ways people practice
There is no single right way. People use a mix of these, and the free pack above works as a companion to any of them.
A class or a teacher
Slow and clear Dutch podcasts, like Een Beetje Nederlands or Zeg het in het Nederlands
Dutch news made to be easy to follow, like the NOS Jeugdjournaal
Watching real Dutch videos at your level
Start watching now, no email needed
Explore every B1 Dutch video in the catalog
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How was this NT2 Programma I pack chosen?
We did the searching for you. We check thousands of Dutch videos and measure each one: its level, how fast it is spoken in words a minute, and how many of its words are common. For this pack we kept videos at the B1 level in standard Dutch, at a speed close to the test (around 200 words a minute), where about 97% of the words are among the most common in spoken Dutch. Then we read the transcripts by hand to keep the everyday topics the test uses, and we put the clearest, most visual videos first. About 3,000 common words already cover roughly 95% of normal speech (Nation 2006), so this kind of content matches the test well.
What kind of videos should I practice with for NT2 Programma I listening?
Use real Dutch that is spoken at a normal everyday speed, in the Dutch of the Netherlands rather than Flemish. Pick the work, study and daily-life topics the test uses, like daily life, travel and transport, society and current affairs, work, health and housing. You do not need rare words. About 3,000 common words cover most of normal speech (Nation 2006), so content built from the most common spoken words matches the test well. A good mix is a short news report, an interview, an everyday conversation and a clear explainer, because the exam fragments sound like these. That is exactly how the free pack of 99 videos above was put together.
Does the NT2 listening audio play once or twice?
Once. In the Staatsexamen NT2 Luisteren every fragment plays one time, and the audio starts by itself. Some other exams, like Goethe or DELF, play parts of the audio twice, so do not expect a second chance here. The best preparation is to practise understanding a recording the first time, without going back.
Do I need Programma I or Programma II?
Programma I is at level B1. It fits a study at mbo level and work at mbo-3 or mbo-4 level. Programma II is at level B2 and fits study or work at hbo or university level. For naturalisation both count. You do not have to pass Programma I before you take Programma II.
Is Programma I enough for Dutch citizenship (naturalisation)?
Yes. For naturalisation you need the inburgeringsexamen at level A2, or the Staatsexamen NT2 at level B1 or B2. A Programma I diploma counts, and B1 is one level above the A2 minimum, so the same diploma also proves more Dutch for study and work.
Can I prepare for free?
Yes. The most exam-like free practice is the official NT2 practice environment, where you can try real exams for both programmes on your computer, including Luisteren. After that, the best free thing you can do is listen to a lot of real Dutch at your level. Start with the 99 videos above, or watch more on YouTube or here on Reelang.
How much does the Staatsexamen NT2 cost?
Each exam part costs 50 euros, so the four parts of a full programme (reading, listening, writing and speaking) cost 200 euros together. You can take the parts separately, and you can retake a part you did not pass.
How is video different from textbook audio?
Textbook audio is often slow and very clear, with actors who speak carefully. Real video uses normal speed and real voices, which is closer to the test. The pictures also help you guess words you do not know yet. In the NT2 exam this matters twice: 1 to 3 of the exam fragments are themselves short video clips.