Do you need a certificate to demonstrate your knowledge of Dutch?
For a number of certificates you can take a test at the Dutch Language House Brussels. If you pass, you receive the certificate.
We take these tests for the Flemish government.
Parents wishing to enrol their children in a Dutch-speaking school or nursery can make an appointment for a free language test.
- Dutch language test priority for nursery B1 oral or for education B2 oral
You can also take other certification tests at the Dutch Language House Brussels. Those tests are paying:
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for housing code, A2 oral
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for childcare workersof day-care centres, A2 written, B1 oral
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for managers of day-care centres, B1 written, B2 oral
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for nationality applications, A2 oral and written
- Dutch exemption test for civic integration (first test free of charge under certain conditions, then chargeable)
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for training as a social interpreter, B2 oral and written
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for public administration staff, required level to be requested from the government institution
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for teaching staff, required level to be requested from the educational institution
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for prospective students, required level to be requested from the educational institution
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for taxi drivers (driver’s pass), B1 oral and written with the possibility to obtain A2 oral and written first
- Proof of Dutch knowledge for doctorsGBBW, B1 oral
You do not know which certificate you need? Ask the organisation where you have to submit it before taking the test.
You do not need official proof of your level of Dutch but you (or your employer) want to know your level of Dutch? Then you can take a level test. The duration depends on your level. This test does not give you official proof, but it does give you reliable test results on paper.
Do you have a question?
I want to take a certification test
1) I come to the Dutch Language House for a screening
During the screening, we will test your spoken Dutch free of charge.
- This will give us an idea of whether you know enough Dutch to take the certification test. This is not a guarantee of success.
- A certification test takes a lot of time. With screening, we can help you avoid unnecessary costs and wasting time on a test that is still too difficult.
2) I get advice from the Dutch Language House
- Do you know enough Dutch to take the certificate? We will give you information about the test procedure. We make an appointment for the test, which is divided into two parts. You pay for the part you are tested for:
- Part 1 — reading and listening: € 90
- Part 2 — speaking and writing: € 90
- Do you not yet know enough Dutch to take the test? We will give you tips on how to learn enough Dutch to pass the attestation.
Information on the course of the certification test
First part: In the first part, we test reading and listening skills in Dutch. The test is numerical and consists of multiple choice questions. The test takes about 2 hours. Did you pass? Then you can immediately make an appointment for the second part of the test.
Second part: The second part of the test consists of writing and speaking exercises. This part also takes about 2 hours.
Within three weeks we will send you the result by post with the attached certificate if you have passed.
Failed? Then you can take a normal level test and enrol in a Dutch language course. You can make an appointment via our website or you can visit us during opening hours. After three months, you can take the certification test again.
File an appeal
If you are dissatisfied with the procedure or the result of a certification test, you can file an appeal free of charge.