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.

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

• Dutch 1 intensive course (in Jun/Jul/Aug - 3 weeks, 5 lessons p/wk)
• Dutch 2 intensive course (in Jul/Aug - 3 weeks, 5 lessons p/wk)
• Dutch 3 intensive course (in Jul/Aug - 3 weeks, 5 lessons p/wk)
• Dutch 4 intensive course (in Jul/Aug - 3 weeks, 5 lessons p/wk)

And in summer, July-August:

• Dutch 1+2 (as an intensive summer course only; 6 weeks, 4 lessons per week)

In October 2023 we are introducing a variety of conversation courses at the B1/B2 level, for which you can buy a multi-strip ticket (punch card) of 5 or 10 classes. You can choose between classroom and online classes, offered on different days and at different times. This means there will always be a time and class format that suits you best.

• Conversation Lessons B1/B2 - Multi-strip ticket system of 5 or 10 classes

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.

• Dutch Plus Writing

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.

• Nederlands voor vergevorderden A en B

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

Admission Exam TUL Advanced

The Academic Language Centre offers a free online course 'SPOC Dutch & More':

•  for international students
•  for international staff members

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.