How do I prepare for the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma II listening exam?
The Staatsexamen NT2 Programma II listening exam (Luisteren) tests Dutch at the B2 level, with about 40 multiple-choice questions about real recordings. Every fragment plays only once.
The best free way to get ready is to listen to a lot of real Dutch at the B2 level. There is a free pack of 98 B2 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
Mariska van der Meij has taught Dutch since 2013 and founded the Dutch Speaking Academy near Amsterdam. She works with internationals who understand a lot of Dutch but still switch to English when it is their turn to speak. The listening method on this page is hers.
From a Dutch teacher
How should I prepare for the NT2 Programma II listening test?
Programma II has exactly the same shape as Programma I. Luisteren takes 90 minutes and asks about 40 questions on 5 or more listening texts, with 3 or 4 answers each and one right one. You get about 25 seconds to read a question first, 1 to 3 of the fragments are short video clips, and everything plays only once. What changes is the Dutch. At B2 the speakers argue a point, and they say things a lot less directly.
So the first thing to find out is whether you are really at B2, and not at a comfortable B1. Do a free official practice exam for Programma II before you sign up. It costs you nothing, and it is a much better test than how ready you feel.
Follow the argument, not the words
At B2 the question is rarely which word did you hear. It is what does this person think, and why. A speaker builds a case: here is what is wrong, and here is what should happen. If you follow that shape, you can miss a few words and still answer the question.
So when you practise, stop the video after a minute and say out loud what the speaker is arguing and what they want. If you cannot say it, listening again for single words will not save you.
Learn the words that turn a sentence around
B2 speakers change direction a lot, and small words do the steering. Train your ear on maar ("but"), toch ("still"), hoewel ("although"), daarentegen ("on the other hand"), sterker nog ("in fact, even more so") and kortom ("in short"). They warn you that a contrast is coming, or that the summary you need is next.
This matters because a wrong answer is often something the speaker really did say, just before they turned around and said the opposite.
Listen for the way we soften an opinion
Dutch people often avoid saying no straight out. Instead we say nou ja ("well, yeah"), op zich ("in itself"), in principe ("in principle") or eigenlijk ("actually"). On a B2 recording those little words carry the opinion. When somebody says op zich is het een goed plan, maar..., they do not think it is a good plan.
So listen to the tone as much as the words. How somebody feels about what they are describing is a thing the exam can ask you about.
Practise with one long piece, not five short ones
The fragments in Programma II run longer and hold more information, so train for that. Take one interview or one news item of a few minutes and work through it in pieces of about 30 seconds. Listen without the text and say what you understood, listen again, and only then read the transcript or the subtitles.
Do this for 30 minutes at most, then stop and give yourself a break. Listening this closely is tiring, and your attention is the thing you are training.
You hear it once, so decide what you are listening for
There is no second listen, and that changes how you use the 25 seconds before a fragment. Read the question and the answers, then decide what you are hunting for: an opinion, a reason, a number, or the difference between two people. Listen for that one thing and do not worry about the rest.
And if you miss one, let it go and get ready for the next fragment. Chasing an answer that has already gone by is how people lose the questions after it as well.
Two things carry you through this exam. One is an ear that is used to Dutch at normal speed, which you build by watching real Dutch most days. The other is the habit of asking what is this person getting at, which you build by doing full practice exams. Veel succes!
Why this level
Why do people take NT2 Programma II?
People commonly need Dutch at the B2 level for:
Studying at a hogeschool (hbo) or a university, which asks for B2 Dutch
Working at hbo or academic level, including BIG registration for nurses trained at hbo level
Dutch citizenship (naturalisation), where an NT2 diploma at B1 or B2 counts
Is your goal an mbo study programme, or work at mbo-3 or mbo-4 level? That asks for B1, so start with the NT2 Programma I listening page.
Free · 98 videos · 4 hours 2 minutes
Your free NT2 Programma II listening pack
Here are 98 short videos by real native speakers at the B2 level, at a speaking speed close to the exam (around 197 words a minute). The speakers use Netherlands Dutch, the variety you hear in the exam, not Flemish. 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 4 hours 2 minutes of listening practice for the Staatsexamen NT2 Programma II. They are all free to watch below.
Wereldwijventour: vrouwen die Den Haag hebben veranderd
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A walking tour about famous women in The Hague, where a guide explains history with "want" and "dus" on location.
Escape room dicht, een online spel ontstaat
Creators United
What you'll practice
An escape room owner shows her closed rooms and explains her new online game, using "eigenlijk" and "juist".
Tien dagen geen gevechten in Libanon uitgelegd
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A news explainer about the ceasefire in Lebanon, using reported speech like "zegt Israël" to present each side's position.
Hoe Nederlandse tv de Surinaamse onafhankelijkheid in beeld bracht
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
A documentary about how TV covered Suriname's independence, with witnesses recalling events using past tenses and "destijds".
Wat het landelijk oliecrisisplan voor jou betekent
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A news explainer about the national oil crisis plan in four phases, with formal linking like "ondanks alles" and "kort gezegd".
Hoe normaal is het traditionele gezin eigenlijk?
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A short explainer asks how normal the standard family really is, building an argument with "maar" and "ondertussen".
Joyce’s verhaal over een infectie met vleesetende bacterie
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report on a dangerous infection mixes a patient's story, street voices and an expert, with "eigenlijk" hedges.
Mars tegen armoede en de gevolgen voor uitkeringsgerechtigden
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report from a poverty march, where people explain money problems using "terwijl" when prices rise but income stays flat.
Stadslandbouw NoordOogst in de knel door sportvelden
AT5
What you'll practice
A local news report shows an urban farm that must leave for sports fields, with reasons linked by "namelijk" and "terwijl".
Mening van Jordaanbewoners over Koningsdag en drukte
AT5
What you'll practice
Locals in a news report give opinions about King's Day crowds, linking ideas with "eigenlijk" and "gewoon".
Diversere verhalen in het Amsterdamse stadsarchief
AT5
What you'll practice
A news report shows the Amsterdam city archive adding more diverse stories, with contrast words like "terwijl" and "eigenlijk".
Hoe de oorlog in Iran de wereld beïnvloedt
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A news explainer on the Iran war and its world effects, with clear summarizing links like "kortom" and "ondanks".
Generatiekloof en schoolherinneringen met frikandelbroodje
NPO Start
What you'll practice
A documentary talk about school changes since the 1960s, where a historian argues with "naar mijn idee" about education reform.
Wie is de Mol en de toerismeboost voor Georgië
De Telegraaf
What you'll practice
A news report on tourism to Georgia after a TV show, with a tour operator confirming growth using "inderdaad" and "langzaam maar zeker".
Waarom studentenverenigingen een ontgroening hebben
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
An animated explainer tells why student clubs haze new members, linking history and purpose with "want" and "dus".
Uitleg: wat is autisme en hoe uit het zich?
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
A short explainer about autism describes causes and effects with "waardoor" and "dus", useful for exam listening.
Minister verdedigt duur bezoek aan marineschip Evertsen
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A reporter presses a minister about the cost of a navy visit, so you hear firm answers using "afweging" and "cruciaal".
Koloniale troepen in de Tweede Wereldoorlog en daarna
Hipstoricus
What you'll practice
A history explainer on colonial troops in World War Two, building an argument with "hoewel" and a "waarom" question.
Rob Jetten over oorlog, veiligheid en zijn nieuwe rol
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A news interview where the new prime minister explains war worries, giving reasons with "daarom" and "zodat".
Hoe werkt de gesmolten zout kerncentrale in Borssele?
Omroep Zeeland
What you'll practice
Two presenters explain how a molten salt nuclear reactor works, connecting each step with "dus" and "juist".
Studie Nederlands: meer dan alleen literatuur
University of Groningen
What you'll practice
A student explains what studying Dutch at university is really like, correcting expectations with "eigenlijk" and "juist".
Opleiding van blindegeleidehonden in Amsterdamse verkeerstuin
The Dutch Table
What you'll practice
A documentary about training guide dogs for blind people, with the clear contrast word "daarentegen".
Studie Nederlands, moderne letterkunde en mijn scriptie over liefde
University of Groningen
What you'll practice
A student presents her Dutch literature study and thesis, linking reasons with "omdat" and "naast" in clear speech.
Waarom Nederlanders klimaatverandering nauwelijks als probleem zien
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A speaker argues why Dutch people ignore climate change, using numbers and the contrast word "toch" to make a point.
Robbert Rodenburg over eetstoornissen, taboes en herstel
RTL Tonight
What you'll practice
A talk show interview about eating disorders in men, with claims supported by "bijvoorbeeld" and "gewoon" in natural fast Dutch.
Hantavirus op cruiseschip: hoe groot is het risico?
WNL
What you'll practice
A virus expert answers news questions about an outbreak on a ship, weighing risk with "kennelijk" and "überhaupt".
Waarom boodschappen in Nederland zo duur zijn
RTL Z
What you'll practice
A news explainer on why Dutch groceries cost more than abroad, weighing causes with "sowieso" and "toch".
Waarom krijg je spierkramp tijdens het sporten?
University of The Netherlands
What you'll practice
A lecture on why muscles cramp during sport, with clear cause and effect links like "waardoor" and "op het moment dat".
Hoe Cruijff denkt en spreekt volgens de taalkunde
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A short lecture explains how Cruijff spoke faster than he could plan, using "terwijl" to contrast two thinking steps.
Rob Jetten over social media en bescherming van kinderen
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A journalist questions minister Rob Jetten about a social media ban for children, with reasons linked by "want" and "uiteindelijk".
Iraniërs vieren benoeming van nieuwe opperste leider
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A short news bulletin about Iran's new leader, with formal words like "zogeheten" and the passive voice.
Vrouwenmars in Amsterdam voor Internationale Vrouwendag
AT5
What you'll practice
Street interviews at a women's march in Amsterdam, where speakers soften opinions with "toch" and "eigenlijk".
Dakloze moeders met kinderen in Amsterdam-Zuidoost
AT5
What you'll practice
A news report follows homeless mothers in Amsterdam, so you hear reported speech like "ik kreeg te horen" about refused help.
Joyce overleeft treinongeluk en deelt haar levensles
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report about a train crash survivor, so you hear past tense storytelling and time phrases like "30 jaar geleden".
Hoe Volendam zo populair werd bij schilders
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
An interview on the dike explains how painters made Volendam world famous, summing up ideas with "in feite".
300 jaar Staatsloterij: geschiedenis van trekkingen en loten
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A studio talk about 300 years of the state lottery, listing reasons with "daarnaast" and "eigenlijk".
Leven van kookvideo’s en omgaan met online bekendheid
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A food creator explains the good and bad sides of online work, weighing them with "eigenlijk" and "maar".
Leven van kookvideo’s op instagram: vrijheid en nadelen
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A food creator explains how she earns a living from short cooking videos, weighing pros and cons with "maar" and "eigenlijk".
Studentenleven op Uilenstede in Amsterdam in 1973
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
A 1973 documentary about student housing compares rents and rooms, with contrast marked by "terwijl" and "doordat".
Identiteit en tradities van Volendam als vissersdorp
De Morgen
What you'll practice
A documentary about Volendam's fishing village identity, where speakers link opinions with "toch" and "natuurlijk".
De zoektocht naar een nieuwe Hongaarse president
NOS op 3
What you'll practice
A reported explainer on Hungary picking a new president, with a country expert weighing in, so you practise holding on to an argument over five minutes rather than catching single facts.
Wie is de nieuwe leider van Iran?
NOS Jeugdjournaal
What you'll practice
A news explainer about Iran's new leader, with contrast marked by "toch" and a conclusion with "eigenlijk".
Van Weel reageert op politiegeweld tegen zwangere vrouw
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A minister answers press questions about police violence, deflecting with "dat is aan de politie" and reported speech "de politie zegt".
Straatinterview over persvrijheid en kritiek op de media
Het Klokhuis
What you'll practice
Street interviews about press freedom mix real opinions and jokes, so you hear arguments with "want" and "dus".
Middeleeuws kinderfeest in de kerk op 28 december
The Dutch Table
What you'll practice
A historian lectures on a medieval children's feast in church, explaining causes with "vanwege" and "dus".
Onderzoek naar tropisch bos en klimaatverandering uitgelegd
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
A researcher explains how tree rings show climate change effects, structuring the explanation with "dus eigenlijk" and "doordat".
Nederlandse steun voor gewonde dierenarts en dieren in Gaza
Animal Heroes Foundation
What you'll practice
Reporters interview Dutch vets who support animals in Gaza, so you hear "ondanks" used to link hardship and helping.
Een gezin vormen met drie ouders en een nieuwe taal
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A speaker argues for legal rights for three parent families, using questions and the contrast word "terwijl" to build her case.
Veranderende wijk in Rotterdam en spanningen tussen bewoners
Nieuws van de Dag
What you'll practice
A news report where residents describe how their Rotterdam area changed, stressing points with "juist" and "gewoon".
Dierenvervoer naar het slachthuis tijdens extreme hitte
Eyes on Animals
What you'll practice
A news report on animal transport in extreme heat, with opposite views and the phrase "daar ben ik het niet mee eens".
Waarom we verschillende soorten tranen hebben
Clipphanger
What you'll practice
An animated explainer about types of tears, where causes and contrasts are marked with "juist" and "toch".
Texelse tradities: meierblis en oude Sunderklaas uitgelegd
NH Nieuws
What you'll practice
A regional news report explains two Texel traditions, with formal phrases like "van oudsher" and "aan de kaak stellen".
Feyenoord populairst, Ajax verliest fans aan concurrenten
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news item explains research on football club popularity, giving reasons with "namelijk" and "vanwege".
Daten, armoede en de wens voor kinderen
KRO-NCRV
What you'll practice
A documentary interview about dating while poor, where the speaker hedges honestly with "toch" and "eigenlijk" about wanting children.
Wat er gebeurt als we het oneens zijn
Brainwash
What you'll practice
A short lecture explains brain research on disagreement, with clear comparisons like "precies het omgekeerde" between listening and blocking.
Reisleiders Ger en Evelyne over hun bijzondere groepsreis
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
Two tour guides discuss a group trip through the Pyrenees, explaining their choices with "vanwege het feit dat".
Cacaoboeren verdienen te weinig van de opbrengst
WNL
What you'll practice
An interview about why cocoa farmers earn too little, with disagreement and emphasis through "juist" and "vooral".
Dierenzwangerschap: bizarre voortplanting bij konijnen en kangoeroes
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
An expert interview about animal pregnancy, where causes and conclusions are linked with "dus" and "want" at natural speed.
Rouw, kleinkinderen en samen verder na verlies
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
Two widowed seniors talk with an interviewer about grief and grandchildren, using "toch" to soften hard feelings.
Homoseksualiteit en voortplanting in het dierenrijk uitgelegd
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
A science explainer on animal behavior, where the expert hedges claims with "met name" and "zou je kunnen argumenteren".
Boek over Scheveningen in de oorlogsjaren
Omroep West
What you'll practice
A studio interview about a book on wartime Scheveningen, with reasons introduced by "omdat" and "anders" in clear standard Dutch.
De heksenhamer en de kracht van desinformatie
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
A museum explainer links a 15th century witch hunting book to modern disinformation, using phrases like "niets nieuws onder de zon".
Leven van je nieuwsbrief: geld verdienen met Substack
havermelkelite
What you'll practice
A creator explains earning money from a newsletter platform, introducing facts with "namelijk" at a fast pace.
Achteruit zwemmen voor gehandicapte kinderen tijdens carnaval
The Dutch Table
What you'll practice
An old newsreel about a backwards swimming stunt for charity, with formal narration that explains facts using "namelijk".
Waarom we Sinterklaas op 5 december vieren
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
A short explainer tells why Sinterklaas is on 5 December, using history connectives like "bovendien" and "naarmate".
Huwelijksfeest: 65 jaar getrouwd in Bergen op Zoom
The Dutch Table
What you'll practice
An old newsreel about a 65 year wedding party, with formal narration and contrast marked by "weliswaar".
Leven met afasie en de strijd om woorden
Hart van Nederland
What you'll practice
A news report about living with aphasia, so you hear health words and examples introduced with "bijvoorbeeld".
Dutch Design Week en de BeMoved koffiemachine
FutureOfCoffee
What you'll practice
A playful report from Dutch Design Week shows products and trends, contrasting ideas with "toch" while people test a coffee machine.
Geen kinderen, maar wel ruimte om liefde te geven
KRO-NCRV
What you'll practice
A woman reflects on life without her own children in a calm interview, reasoning with "doordat" and "dus".
Openhartig over leven na depressie en antidepressiva
RTL Boulevard
What you'll practice
An open interview about life after depression, with honest hedging like "best wel" and contrast using "terwijl".
Wat maakt een kinderboek echt goed voor kinderen?
WNL
What you'll practice
A studio talk about what makes children's books good, with opinions introduced by "ik denk" and "bijvoorbeeld".
De vasthoudende interviewstijl van Willibrord Frequin uitgelegd
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
A colleague explains a famous reporter's stubborn interview tricks, with "desnoods" showing how far he would go.
Ranomi Kromowidjojo over ambitie en meedogenloze topsport
Omroep MAX
What you'll practice
A calm interview with a swimmer about ambition, with conditions expressed by "tenzij" and time clauses with "totdat".
Koopmeiners over petitie tegen WK in Amerika
RTL Nieuws
What you'll practice
A footballer answers questions about a World Cup petition, hedging his opinions with "ik denk dat" and "misschien".
Omgaan met de kankerdiagnose van mijn moeder
Stichting Bratelle
What you'll practice
A young woman describes coping with her mother's cancer, contrasting feelings with "terwijl" in a calm interview.
Maagdelijke voortplanting bij slangen en eenzame cobra Ayla
Quest Magazine
What you'll practice
A science conversation about snakes that clone themselves, with steps in the argument marked by "dus" and "uitsluitend".
Marijn Kuipers over haar jarenlange strijd met boulimia
RTL Tonight
What you'll practice
A woman describes her recovery from bulimia in a talk show, using "op een gegeven moment" to order events in time.
Leven in eenzaamheid op een eilandje in de polder
KRO-NCRV
What you'll practice
An interview with a woman living alone in the polder, with simple answers softened by "gewoon" and "een beetje".
Ome Cor over verlies, vrijheid en genieten van de natuur
KRO-NCRV
What you'll practice
An interview with an old man about loss and living alone, with blunt short answers and frequent "gewoon" and "prima".
Herinneringen aan Moordspel en drie minuten gratis winkelen
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
A visit to a former quiz winner who retells old TV memories, introducing facts with "namelijk".
Twentse geboortetradities in Rotterdam
The Dutch Table
What you'll practice
An old newsreel about Twente birth traditions in Rotterdam, with formal narration like "ze hoort dat nu eenmaal".
Uitvindingen bekijken op de Brusselse uitvindersbeurs
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld & Geluid
What you'll practice
An old newsreel about an inventors fair in Brussels, with formal narration like "men kan er zich over verbazen".
Sinterklaasintocht in Amsterdam en speelgoeddroom in de RAI
Amsterdam - Verzamelde Historische Filmbeelden
What you'll practice
An old newsreel about the Sinterklaas arrival in Amsterdam, where the narrator sums up with "kortom" and contrasts with "toch".
Geheim liefdesverhaal na Boer Zoekt Vrouw-finale
L1 Nieuws
What you'll practice
A regional news item about a TV couple keeping their love secret, retelling past events with "toch" several times.
Praten met je kind over de eerste menstruatie
Het Klokhuis
What you'll practice
A comic guide for parents about a child's first period, giving advice with imperatives and the contrast word "terwijl".
Een legendarisch panna-moment met de Nederlandse koning
TOUZANI TV
What you'll practice
A vlog story about a football trick on the king, told in past tense with "terwijl" linking two actions.
Cryptische kledingstukken raden in een quizronde
Woody Moonlighting
What you'll practice
A quiz round guessing clothing items from photos, good for compound nouns like "spijkerbroek" and "kabeltrui".
De tranen van mijn vader en dit stukje land
KRO-NCRV
What you'll practice
An emotional interview about a father and a piece of land, where the guest reflects with "eigenlijk" and "toch".
Leo Alkemade over film over zijn overleden vader
RTL Boulevard
What you'll practice
An actor tells a reporter about a film premiere honoring his late father, hedging feelings with "eigenlijk" and "toch".
Florentijn Hofman stelt zich voor als kandidaat mol
Wie is de Mol?
What you'll practice
An artist introduces himself for a TV game, stating opinions with "wat mij betreft" and "natuurlijk".
Dingen die ik anders zou doen in mijn keuken
Diesna Loomans
What you'll practice
A vlogger walks through her kitchen and explains design regrets, using conditional forms like "zou doen" and "veel te duur".
Designer vondsten en naaiprojecten in de kringloopwinkel
iamtheknees
What you'll practice
A thrift shopping vlog about finding clothes to sew, where plans are explained with "namelijk" and "dus".
Beautyblogger Mascha bij RTL Boulevard over haar succes
beautygloss
What you'll practice
A TV report profiles a beauty blogger who turned her hobby into a business, using time markers like "op een gegeven moment".
Overlijden van George Kooijmans en zijn muzikale erfenis
Woody Moonlighting
What you'll practice
A news report on the deaths of two rock musicians, with passive forms like "wordt gezien als" and band history.
Over kinderen, tijd en de wens om oma te worden
RTL Boulevard
What you'll practice
A talk show guest reflects on children growing up fast, hedging her opinion with "ik denk" and "best wel".
Verjaardagsstress en traktaties in de kleuterklas
AVROTROS
What you'll practice
A comedy scene at a preschool about birthday treats, where parents argue politely and use "natuurlijk" and "toch" in fast everyday speech.
Herinnering aan Bataclan tijdens voorbereidingen op een feestshow
BM - Broadcast Magazine
What you'll practice
A TV maker remembers the night of the Paris attack in an interview and uses "alsof" to compare feelings.
Exitgesprek met afvaller van Wie is de Mol
Wie is de Mol?
What you'll practice
An exit interview about game choices, where the player hedges with "wellicht" and reflects with "uiteindelijk".
The test
What does the B2 listening test look like?
The listening exam (Luisteren) takes 90 minutes on a computer, with headphones. There are about 40 multiple-choice questions about five or more recordings. The format is the same for Programma I and II; what changes is the level of the Dutch. Here is what you hear:
Audio fragments
Short real recordings about situations at work, during a study programme and in daily life: conversations, instructions, reports and talks.
Once
Video fragments
One to three of the fragments are short videos (filmpjes), each with one question. The rest is audio only.
Once
You get about 25 seconds to read each question and the three answer choices. Then the fragment starts by itself, and you hear it once. There is no replay.
The recordings are real, so you hear different voices, slips of the tongue, repetitions and sometimes background noise. A speaker can have an accent, but never a dialect.
You may not use a dictionary during Luisteren, and every question has exactly one right answer.
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.
At B2 the missing words are rarely what stops you. The speed is, and so is the fact that you hear everything only once. Video helps, because the pictures show you what a fragment is about while your ear keeps up.
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
Dutch news and current affairs, like the NOS Journaal, Nieuwsuur or EenVandaag
Talks and documentaries about real subjects, not about learning Dutch
Watching real Dutch videos at your level
Start watching now, no email needed
Explore every B2 Dutch video in the catalog
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How was this NT2 Programma II 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 B2 level in standard Dutch, at a speed close to the test (around 197 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 II listening?
Use real Dutch from the Netherlands, spoken at a normal native speed, where someone explains a subject or people give their opinions. Pick the work, study and daily-life topics the exam uses, like history and culture, society and current affairs, work, family, health and media. 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 news report, an interview and a clear explainer, because the exam uses short real fragments like these. That is exactly how the free pack of 98 videos above was put together.
Does the NT2 listening audio play once or twice?
Once. Every fragment plays one time and starts by itself; there is no replay button. You get about 25 seconds to read the question and the answer choices before it starts. Some other exams, like Goethe and DELF, play parts of their audio twice, so people often arrive expecting a second chance. Here there is none, which is why it helps to practise listening without pausing or going back.
Do I need to pass Programma I before taking Programma II?
No. They are separate exams, and you can take Programma II straight away. Pick by your goal, not by order: Programma I (B1) fits an mbo study programme and work at mbo-3 or mbo-4 level, and Programma II (B2) fits hbo or university study and work at that level. If your goal needs B2, Programma I is a detour, not a required first step.
Is NT2 Programma II enough to work in Dutch healthcare?
It depends on your profession. For nurses trained at hbo level, BIG registration asks for Dutch at B2, and NT2 Programma II is the common way to show it. For nurses trained at mbo level the level is B1, so that is Programma I. For doctors the bar is higher: B2 plus medical Dutch, usually called B2+, so Programma II alone is not enough for them.
Does NT2 Programma II count for Dutch citizenship?
Yes. For naturalisation you need the inburgeringsexamen at level A2, or the staatsexamen NT2 at level B1 or B2. A Programma II diploma counts, and it proves a much higher level of Dutch than the minimum, which also helps with study and work later.
How much does the Staatsexamen NT2 cost?
Each exam part costs €50, so a complete programme of four parts (Lezen, Luisteren, Schrijven, Spreken) costs €200. That is the same for Programma I and II. You can take and retake the parts separately, so if one part goes wrong you only pay for that part again.
Can I prepare for free?
Yes. The most exam-like free practice is the official NT2 practice environment (oefenomgeving), with sample exams for all four parts of both programmes. It works best on a computer, not on a phone. After that, the best free thing you can do is listen to a lot of real Dutch at your level. Start with the videos above, or watch more on YouTube or here on Reelang.