Dutch
for students, staff and others
The courses below are intended for adults with higher levels of education, Leiden University students and staff members who wish to combine them with their university studies or work, as well as other interested parties who are unrelated to Leiden University. The course focuses on everyday conversational Dutch and is also suitable for expats.
Start of course |
Enrolment and dates available |
| February | 1 November |
| July | 1 May |
| August | 1 May |
| September | 1 July |
Regular courses
Starting in September and February, two lessons per week, usually in the evening
- Dutch 1
- Dutch 2
- Dutch 3
- Dutch 4
- Dutch 5
- Dutch 6
- Dutch 1+2 Intensive Summer course; 6 weeks with 4 lessons per week
The courses below are meant for international students of the University of Leiden and for participants who wish to follow a non-intensive course.
Late afternoon or evening, one lesson a week
- Dutch 1A (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 1A in Den Haag (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 1B (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 1B in Den Haag (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 2A (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 2A in Den Haag (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 2B (offered in September and February)
- Dutch 3A (offered in September)
- Dutch 3B (offered in February)
- Dutch 4A (offered in September)
- Dutch 4B (offered in February)
- Dutch 5A (offered in September)
- Dutch 5B (offered in February)
- Dutch 6A (offered in September)
- Dutch 6B (offered in February)
- Nederlands voor vergevorderden A (September) and B (February)
Intensive courses
5 weeks, 4 lessons per week (in Jun/Jul/Aug - 3 weeks, 5 lessons p/wk)
Super intensive courses
3 weeks, 5 lessons per week
And in summer, July-August:
- Dutch 1+2 (as an intensive summer course only; 6 weeks, 4 lessons per week)
Dutch Conversation B1/B2 for Leiden University Staff
Are you an employee of Leiden University and would like to improve your fluency in Dutch? During this training you will work on increasing your vocabulary and communication skills.
- Dutch Conversation B1/B2 for Leiden University Staff in Leiden
- Dutch Conversation B1/B2 for Leiden University Staff in The Hague
Dutch Plus Writing
Dutch Plus Writing is aimed at students who wish to improve their writing skills at an advanced level.
Advanced Dutch
The advanced Dutch courses A and B are intended for people who have lived in the Netherlands for some time and already have a very good knowledge of Dutch.
Neuer Kurs Niederländisch für Deutschsprachige
- Niederländisch für Deutschsprachige 1
- Niederländisch für Deutschsprachige 2
- Niederländisch für Deutschsprachige 3
Information for prospective students
Prospective students with a non-Dutch secondary educational background must have a good command of Dutch for entry to a bachelor programme at Leiden University. The university provides Dutch courses for these students. Prospective students who already have a command of Dutch can do an entrance exam.
The Language Centre also organises English courses for prospective students who want to enter a degree programme at Leiden University for which English is a requirement. Students doing a degree for which Dutch is the language of instruction also need a good command of English, since most literature is in English.
Admission Exam TUL Intermediate
| Description | This exam is required for entry to many degree programmes at Leiden University. Please consult your department for requirements. The exam consists of five parts: reading, writing, listening and grammar |
| Registration | Register online for TUL Intermediate Exam |
| Location | Language Centre, Cleveringaplaats 1, Leiden |
| Price | € 150,- for the whole exam € 50,- per section for resits |
| Status of the Admission Exam TUL Intermediate |
The exam is only recognised by the University of Leiden. It is not a nationally recognised exam.The level 4 exam is equivalent to level B1.2 of the European Reference Framework. [Sample Admission Exam TUL Intermediate] |
| Conditions | Candidates may resit the exam twice. This also applies to individual sections of the test. |
Admission Exam TUL Advanced
| Description | This exam is required for entry to degree programmes at Leiden University. Please consult your department for requirements. The exam consists of five parts: reading, writing, listening and grammar |
| Registration | Register online for TUL Advanced Exam |
| Location | Language Centre, Cleveringaplaats 1, Leiden |
| Price | € 150,- for the whole exam € 50,- per section for resits |
| Status of the Admission Exam TUL Intermediate |
The exam is only recognised by the University of Leiden. It is not a nationally recognised exam. The exam is comparable with programme II (B2) of the state exam, although in the Admission Exam TUL Advanced the standard of grammar and grammatical correctness for productive skills is higher than in programme II of the state exam. [Sample Admission Exam TUL Advanced] |
| Conditions | Candidates may resit the exam twice. This also applies to individual sections of the test. |
The Academic Language Centre offers a free online course 'SPOC Dutch & More':
Before enrolling, you have to take an entrance test.
- If you have studied Dutch before, you can also take a Dutch entrance test to determine your current level.
- Please send an email to talencentrum@hum.leidenuniv.nl to make an appointment for the online test
*PLEASE NOTE: If you have taken a Dutch course at the Academic Language Centre and you did not pass the final exam, you cannot register for the next level course on the basis of an intake test.