Top Dutch Language Website Review

Which is the best website for learning Dutch online for free? How to learn Dutch fast with or without a Dutch language course? It is stimulating to learn Dutch online for free and be spoilt with so many choices of websites but more so for people who have to learn Dutch compulsorily to live and find jobs in the Flanders region in Belgium and Netherlands.

Having a wide variety of Dutch Learning websites out there can dazzle you. Everybody has different needs when it comes to learning a new language, Dutch. Some people are more proficient in certain areas whereas weaker areas require further reading and improvement. Below are examples of what many students want when learning a new language and the need differs from person to person.

• Knowledge of Dutch grammar rules and more vocabulary
• English-Dutch dictionary or vice versa
• Dutch verb conjugation
• Online test to assess the level of Dutch standard
• Getting the Dutch pronunciation right
• Examples of Dutch sentence formation with a particular word and under what kind of context it can be used
• Watch Dutch videos with Dutch subtitles so they can listen and follow the storyline while learning new words at the same time

Learn Dutch Online Free

Whichever needs that you have, not all Dutch Learning websites can offer you a “one-in-all” package. Each has its specialising field. That is what I am here today, to review 15 top Dutch language learning websites to learn Dutch online free and notably, dig out their specialities so that we can zoom onto the Dutch sites that are the most suitable for us.

A quick note about myself. I am a Singaporean living in Antwerp which is a Dutch-speaking community. Accurately speaking, the locals in Flanders speak mostly Flemish which is a Dutch dialect in the Northern part of Belgium. Learning Dutch as the second language is the stepping stone for learning Flemish later.

It is compulsory for all non-EU nationals to learn Dutch up to Level 1.2 for social communication as part of the Civic Integration Programme in Belgium. If one wants to find a good job, advancing beyond 1.2 is necessary. It is also the reason why spending effort to learn proper Dutch to a decent level is critical for foreigners residing in Belgium and the Netherlands.

PS: For those residing in the Netherlands, do share what is the mandatory level for learning Dutch there.

Dutch Grammar

Taalhuis

Taalhuis is a website that I have been reading on the use of Dutch grammar religiously. Even before learning Dutch in a CVO (Centrum Volwassenenonderwijs) school, I had already studied the first few lessons by myself a few years ago.

Taalhuis comprises Dutch grammar theories not just for complete beginners, but also for people who would like to reinforce what they have learnt in school. Indeed, it is helpful when there is more explanation of what is not taught in school. Moreover, you can learn Dutch grammar at your own pace.

What I like about Taalhuis is the systematic presentation of the learning curve for beginners to intermediate learners. In every lesson, you get a short test to see how much you have understood for that lesson.

Welk Lidwoord

Welk Lidwoord is a simple indispensable website with a sole function to know if a noun is “De” or “Het” form. For a beginner, guessing the word to be a “De” or Het” is one of the most annoying issues as it will affect the adjective in front of the noun. That is whether to add a “-e” on the adjective if “een” is used. For example, “een mooi huis” (het huis) versus “een mooie hond” (de hond).

Look at more examples below. The “de” and “het” noun will also affect changes in ‘this’ and ‘that’ and the possessive form “your”. The bottom of the welklidwoord.nl site provides an instant answer to the query too.

Dutch Exercises and Test

Taalmenu

Taalmenu is a gem particularly for people who want to do exercises and test themselves for the proficiency of their Dutch level. The Dutch exercises are also written for teachers as printed materials for their students. Taalmenu categorises the learning level from A1, A2, B1 to B2. At each level, you can do different types of exercises like grammar, reading and listening comprehension. There are also beautiful Dutch songs which you can hear and learn the words. The listener can download a PDF file containing lyrics of all the songs and read the explanations of some Dutch terms. Damn cool!

Je Kan Me Wat

Jekanmewat.nl is a fun website for practising and learning Dutch. It is a Dutch project by Taalmenu. However, you can only use the programme on a desktop as it uses Adobe Flash Player which cannot be used on mobile. jekanmewat.nl has 15 modules. Each module comprises 11 parts with Dutch phrases, audio and exercises for level A1. As it progresses, you would learn many new words for an A1 level. Tip: If you are doing word-matching exercises, it is important to use only capital letters for the alphabets to execute the command of a line successfully.

Duolingo

Duolingo is a multi-language exercise platform for people to test their skills. It comprises simple writing tests in both Dutch and English, and listening comprehension to type out the words. The automated voice speaks too fast sometimes and is not very clear. Use the tortoise icon to slow down the speech and hear the words more clearly. Duolingo beginner stage is an easy feat for those who have already taken the basic Dutch language course. In general, it is a lot of fun for people who would like to relax and do some simple exercises instead. There are many levels of practice and creating a personal profile is necessary.

Learn Practice

Learn Practice offers simple fun quizzes that test the meaning and the spelling of the words in various categories. Some words may look simple but don’t be surprised what you don’t know until you have tried it out. With a sign-up registration, you get additional 100+ quizzes to try. There are also a few tutorials to explain the usage of Dutch grammars.

Dutch Verb Conjugation

Verbix

Verbix is a fuss-free website for your verb conjugation. Conjugation is a variation of a verb form to express different grammatical functions or attributes. Enter a Dutch verb in an infinitive form in Verbix that you want to conjugate and a list of conjugated verbs will appear. Please note that for Verbix, you can only key in the infinitive and not the verb variation. For example, enter ‘eten’ and not ‘eet’.

Woordenlijst

If you enter a Dutch verb in the infinitive form in Woordenlijst, the list of conjugation will show only the past and present tense which the function is limited. The advantage compared to Verbix above is that if a conjugated form ‘eet’ is entered, the result will show the infinitive verb ‘eten’. If a word has more than a verb, the Woordenlijst will tell you whether it is a noun or adverb and the word form that comes with it. If you input a noun such as ‘jongen’, Woordenlijst reflects the singular and plural spelling which will help you to know whether the plural form ends with an “en” or an “s”. For example, man versus ‘mannen’ and ‘jongen’ versus ‘jongens’.

Online Languages

Online-languages.info is a multi-language platform. It has several categories in which many are links to other websites to facilitate easier learning by offering more resources. The more valuable asset in Online-languages.info is the ‘Picture Dictionary’ which enables one to recognise a Dutch word with the aid of image for beginner level. There is also a ‘Flashcard’ section to reflect back on the words learnt. My favourite is the ‘Example of Use’ where there are many sentence construction to help the students understand word usage.

Dutch Dictionary, Translation and Example

Bab.la

Bab.la is by far my all-time favourite dictionary because the translation goes both ways. You can input in either a Dutch or an English word. The best part is the example sentences have both Dutch and English translation side-by-side. In this way, you know you have understood the Dutch/English meaning correctly. The bab.la dictionary will also tell you further whether a word is a verb, a noun, an adverb or an adjective and provide examples for all the different categories. It will also state if the noun is a “de” or “het” form.

Word Reference

I started with WordReference.com for learning French. It is an excellent mobile app that I depended on heavily to get all the various meanings of a word from French to English and vice versa. There are translations for the two languages of the same phrase. One of the most useful sections is to allow users to pose questions in a forum regarding a word or phrase in which the community can reply.

WordReference extends its application to the Dutch language recently. Hence, the Dutch example sentences are not as many as what I have seen in the French section. However, the site is helpful for a Dutch word to be explained in English. At the moment, when inputting a Dutch word, many sentence examples are given only in English which allows anglophones to grasp the understanding of the term even better. WordReference is available to download from the phone app.

Dutch Pronunciation and Audio

Forvo

Forvo is the best website for listening to several Dutch pronunciations by native speakers especially if you do not know how to pronounce a word correctly. It is even more helpful for Belgian Dutch students like me to distinguish the pronunciations between Netherlands Dutch, Belgian Dutch and Flemish. Many words have more than one pronunciation by different native speakers indicated by their country of origin. You can click to hear all the accents. Forvo also supports pronunciation in multiple languages.

Encora Logopedia

The best way to speak Dutch better and to pronounce correctly is to pay attention to how a word is being articulated. Encora is a Belgian logopedic platform that trains the students phonetically on consonants, vowels and prosody. There are various exercises to ensure that the students get a group of sounds right. Do note that since this is a Belgian application, some pronunciation may differ between the Netherlands Dutch.

Learn Dutch Watch Video

Learn Dutch Watch Video by 2BDutch.nl has a compilation series of Youtube videos in different genres. Students can listen to the Dutch audio and read the subtitle in Dutch or other languages. Although the website has not been updated for quite some time and a few links are not available anymore, the free resource compilation is still valuable for improving your listening skill. To test your comprehension, just switch the subtitles between Dutch and English to see whether you understand the meaning correctly.

Kijk op Gezond

Time for some relaxation. If you are health-conscious, then you will love this website Kijk op Gezond. It gives tips on how to stay healthy and also teaches you simple exercises which you can follow in the comfort of your house. Most importantly, there are animations that you can read and listen to the Dutch phrases at the same time while the texts are being read. You learn new Dutch words and also improve your listening ability while achieving a goal of being healthy.

Conclusion

It is not the end of Dutch learning yet. I will add more useful websites and applications for learning Dutch as time goes. If you are curious to know what are the simple Dutch conversation taught by the Belgian CVO school for beginners level 1.1 and 1.2, you can check out the page. The Dutch sentences have the English translation too.

Useful and Simple Dutch Conversation for CVO Beginners in Belgium

Following my Dutch Language Course conducted in one of the CVO (Centrum Volwassenenonderwijs) schools, below are some of the simple Dutch conversation learned in Level 1.1 and 1.2 which I have improvised them in a few possible scenarios. I called them my mini-Dutch diary.

After the beginner level of 1.1 and 1.2, I would like to progress further with my Dutch language course because it is essential for living and finding a job in Belgium. As I advance up later to a higher level, I might forget about the sentence construction of simple Dutch conversation. Also, I would be lazy to flip through the past textbooks again.

Furthermore, when I leave Belgium for a few months to visit my family in Singapore or preparing for a Dutch speaking test, I would use this page as a revision without bringing the textbooks with me. Hence, this is the reason why I started my mini Dutch diary.

Well, this page is for you too. If you are preparing for a CVO speaking test, you can refer to this page. The conversation is following closely to the lessons taught in the CVO school. When you have forgotten the meaning of the sentences below, hover or click your mouse on the orange text, the English meaning would then appear.

Thoughts on CVO Courses in Belgium after Completing Basic Dutch Language Level 1.1 and 1.2

Learning Dutch is compulsory for all non-EU citizens living in Belgium. It is an effort made by the Flemish Government as part of the civic integration programme so that new immigrants can find jobs more easily and more integrated into the society. Belgians always appreciate the effort made by the foreigners to speak Dutch because many have told me the same thing.

CVO Dutch courses focus more on everyday life whereas the other well-known course, Linguapolis conducted at the University of Antwerp focuses more on grammars and theoretical aspects of the Dutch language. The course fee for Linguapolis is 550 euro per term without government subsidy. Thus, not everyone wants to pay that kind of hefty sum as compared to maximum 36 euro per CVO course duration.

Since CVO is for everyone regardless of education level and forms part of an obligatory integration programme, the Dutch language course over there teaches you simple Dutch conversation about common daily issues. I find it useful to learn how to ask simple questions such as buying food, clothes, taking a bus at a beginner level.

Simple Dutch Conversation Vetted by Belgian

As I have done some improvisation on the texts of the simple Dutch conversation below for more variation, I have asked one Belgian friend to check the sentence and grammar to ensure the highest accuracy. One advantage of seeking the help of a local is to understand better how the Belgians ask question and reply in a real Dutch conversation instead of following strictly on a textbook.

Practical and Simple Dutch Conversation

Making Simple Appointment

Here is a simple Dutch conversation asking someone to go somewhere and to fix the meeting place. Give reasons for rejecting the meeting.

Asking for Direction

When asking for direction to a place, the illustrated conversation text for Person 1 might be a bit confusing. Giving direction is never fixed and comes with a few combination of sentences. The common verb used is ‘ga‘ and ‘neem‘. One example:-

• Ga naar links (Go to the left).
• Neem de eerste straat rechts (Take the first street right).
• De supermarkt is ann de linkerkant (The supermarket is on the left side).

Buying Vegetable at the Stall

This conversation about buying vegetables is an interaction where the seller prompts the buyer on whether he needs to buy more. When making payment, the buyer can pay the exact amount. When the buyer pays in a big dollar note, the seller requests for the exact amount or a smaller bill.

Phone Enquiry for Second-Hand Item

You, as the buyer (koper) saw an advertisement from a second-hand shop. You then made a call to enquire about the availability and about the dimension of the furniture. The seller (verkoper) answered the call.

Buying a Dress

You saw a lovely red dress outside the shop window. You walked inside and asked to try it. After trying the dress, it does not fit you due to some reasons. You asked for a smaller size, but it was sold out. As you like the design very much, you asked for alteration service for the dress. The shop assistant suggested that you send it to the neighbourhood tailor since they do not provide such a service.

Buying Shoes

You approached the shop assistant to try a pair of high heel. In real life, sometimes, we have two shoe sizes according to the shoes’ design and the model. The shop assistant let you try the smaller size first. However, it was too small. Subsequently, you wanted to try the next larger size. You also asked if the shoes have another colour. The shop assistant suggested that you try the other side of the shoes. After trying, the larger size fits you perfectly.

At the Cashier

At the cashier, you realised you did not have enough cash and requested to pay with the bank card. The shop accepted only cash. You asked where the ATM machine was so you could withdraw some money. At the same time, you wanted to know if you could exchange the clothes if they did not fit you.

At the Train Station

You purchased a return / single trip ticket at the train counter. You also asked for more information about the departing platform, departure time and whether you need to transfer the train somewhere. The ticketing staff informed that you could also find the information on the screen outside.

At the Bus/Tram Stop

You asked someone at the bus or tram stop which bus to take to go to the library and the departure time.

Inside the Bus/Tram

Inside the bus or tram, you wanted to confirm with the driver whether the bus stopped at the library and which stop must you get off at your destination. You requested the driver to notify you when upon arriving at the designated stop.

Phone Enquiry for Renting an Apartment or a House

You wanted to rent an apartment or a house. Therefore, you called the landlord upon seeing an advertisement on the internet and enquired about the apartment/house that you are interested in renting.

The list will add on while attending the next higher level of the Dutch language course or when I feel like adding a new Dutch conversation spontaneously. Hope you enjoy reading it and find it useful for your own use!

Dutch (NT2) as Second Language in Belgium

Do you want to learn about the Dutch Language in Belgium? The Dutch course offered is NT2 (Nederlands als Tweede Taal) which means “Dutch as a Second Language”. Dutch is one of the three official languages of Belgium other than French and German.

It is spoken by the northern part of Belgium which is the Flanders region. Flemish is a dialect variety arising from the Dutch language spoken by approximately 6 million people in the Flanders area. In different Flemish cities, the dialects are not the same too. As a result, Dutch is the common language understood by all the Flemish.

For the first part of the article, there is an introduction to the Civic Integration Programme in the Flanders region of Belgium. Therefore, as learning Dutch is part of the Integration Programme, I have highlighted the importance of this integration policy mandatory by law and the registration process.

Huis van het Nederlands

The language institution responsible for learning the Dutch language is Huis van het Nederlands (House of Dutch). You will be able to find one in every city of Flanders and in Brussels too. There is no centralised website for Huis van het Nederlands in Flanders. Every province and even some cities have their own websites.

You can find Huis van het Nederlands location and opening hours of the cities by selecting from the provinces below.

In Antwerp, the situation changed since two years ago. People who are interested in learning the Dutch language no longer go through Huis van het Nederlands. Instead, they go directly to Altas – Integratie en Inburgering Antwerpen for registration of both the Dutch Course and the Social Integration Programme.

If a student has already had some knowledge of Dutch before, he has to take a language proficiency test from the Huis van het Nederlands to assess his level of Dutch so as to place him at the appropriate level.

The general name of the school is CVO (Centrum Voor Volwassenenonderwijs) which means ‘Centre for Adult Education’. To locate the CVO of where you reside, include your city when you search online. That is ‘CVO + Your City’.

Full Course Rate or Subsidised Rate?

There are two groups of people taking the Dutch Language Course with regards to paying a full course fee and receiving a subsidy from the government.

1) Full Course Rate

The first group of people pays a full course rate. They are not permanent residents in Belgium. These people can be tourists on social visits for a limited period or people who come to Belgium to study the Dutch language.

Or, they can also be residents who have not yet received the Orange Card yet but want to make use of their time to learn the Dutch language in the meanwhile. They can take the Dutch Language Course in private schools or universities in the meanwhile.

2) Subsidised Course Rate

The second group of people pays a subsidised course rate provided by the Flemish Government. They go to a CVO school. To enjoy the reduced rate, one has to produce a Belgian identification card or an Orange Card because it has a Belgian National Number.

Therefore, the subsidisation from the government signifies that the Dutch classes are part of the Integration Programme. However, bound by regulation, the students have to meet the minimum attendance requirement in class.

EU citizens can also take the Dutch course with a subsidised rate, provided that they have signed an integration agreement with the integratie and inburgering agency. In other words, they are obligated to attend the Social Integration Course too.

Is Learning Dutch Language Really Free?

The term “free Dutch course” used widely by netizens is often slightly misleading. As long as one has to pay something such as the course material, it is never free. In fact, the Flemish Government subsidised heavily on the Dutch lessons as part of the Civic Integration Programme for most people.

Flemish Government Subsidy

Under the Civic Integration Programme, it is compulsory to attend two terms of Dutch Language Courses – Level A1 (1.1) and A2 (1.2). Subsequently, it is optional for the students whether they want to advance to a higher level from B1 (2.1) onwards. Additionally, the Flemish Government will continue to offer the Dutch Course subsidy up to Level 2.4. In Antwerp, the full course rate of the Dutch course is €108. With the Government’s grant, one will pay the course material fee not exceeding €36.

Course Intensity

One level of Dutch course is typically 120 hours. For the slower learners or people with lower education, the duration will go up to 180 or 240 hours per level (for level 1.1 and 1.2 only). They would require more time to learn the Dutch language. There are three or more types of schedules with different intensity for the Dutch courses. Thus, the students can choose the schedule based on their availability. On the other hand, the Dutch Course timing offered in every city is not the same so check with your agency again.

1) Super Intensive Course

• 1-month duration: 4 days per week, 6 hours per day
• Morning (9 am to 12 am) and afternoon (1 pm to 4 pm)
• Available for Dutch Language Level 1.1 and 1.2 only

2) Intensive Course

• 2-months duration: 4 days per week, 3 hours per session
• Select your preferred timing – Morning (9 am to 12 am), afternoon (1 pm to 4 pm) or night (6.30 pm to 9.30 pm)

3) Less Intensive Course

• 4-months duration: 1 day per week, 3 hours per session
• Select your preferred timing – Morning (9 am to 12 am), afternoon (1 pm to 4 pm) or night (6.30 pm to 9.30 pm)

The most popular choice for many people to learn Dutch is the Intensive Course, particularly at the first two levels (1.1 and 1.2). The number of days varies between different cities and schools. Some schools offer 2 or 4 days per week of lessons. Your Programme Counsellor would be able to advise the most suitable schedule when you register at Atlas or Huis van het Nederlands.

The bizarre thing is that you would not be able to find the course schedules of your desired locations for most of the CVO websites. That is if you want to plan in advance. That is to say that the date selection of the Social Integration Course and the Dutch Language Course are conducted in the agency like Atlas in Antwerp.

The staffs at the Agency will go through the available time slot and CVO locations together with you. You choose the schedule for either or both the courses on the spot. Besides being mandatory for Civic Integration Programme purpose, Dutch Level 1.2 is also the minimum level required to apply for Belgian citizenship in future.

Long Waiting List for Dutch Language Courses in Atlas

There is one more thing to take note for Atlas Antwerpen and some other cities with a lot of newcomers. It is common to wait several months later for attending a Dutch Language Course due to the high volume of registration. One advice to speed up your Dutch Course enrolment process is to register immediately upon receiving your Orange Card or residence permit.

Firstly, there is a waiting time to get an appointment date in Atlas to talk to the Programme Counsellor. Secondly, the classes are always full. So, you have to grab the earliest commencement date available for the Dutch Course even if the distance is slightly away from your house.

Documentatiecentrum Atlas, Antwerp

After the Civic Integration Program registration at Atlas House, I was recommended by the lady to take a look in the library at the backyard of Atlas Building. She further emphasised that the library had a lot of resources to help people to learn and improve their Dutch language. The image profile is the Documentatiecentrum Atlas in Antwerp.

Following the recommendation, I went to the library, Documentatiecentrum Atlas and approached the counter staff. The lady was warm and helpful to explain the membership that they have. Furthermore, she showed me the type of books and audio material that they have to help improve the Dutch language.

» Membership

It costs only €5 to have a 1-year membership. The renewal is annual. One person can borrow up to 7 items consisting of books and audio material altogether. The loan period is three weeks. After which, it can be renewed one more time for another three weeks in person, by phone or online. Do consider the membership since it has a lot of books for doing grammar and reading comprehension exercises. Even the Public library like Permeke Antwerpen does not have so many resources at this library.

My Dutch Language Class

In one of the CVO school in Antwerp which I am currently attending the beginner course, I took the intensive class that runs for two months. After the end of Dutch Course Level 1.1., the school will continue directly with Level 1.2 with the same teacher. Given that the students pass Level 1.1 and want to advance to 1.2. The registration for Level 1.2 will take place only after the examination. So, this time, the students do not have to go back to Huis van het Nederlands or Atlas for registration. They can do it directly with the school.

GO! CVO Antwerpen – Infofilm NT2

This informative video with English subtitle from CVO Antwerpen will briefly explain what students can expect when they enrol for a Dutch Language Course through CVO school in different modules.

Video Length: 2m 23s

CVO Antwerpen – LBC-NVK | Valentine’s Day Celebration 2017 – Ik Hou Van Jou

On Valentine’s Day Eve, CVO LBC-NVK Antwerpen celebrated this romantic day with a beautiful song – Ik Hou Van Jou (I love you). Towards the end of the song, the singer invited the students to say the words in their native language. Video recorded in High-Definition.

Video Length: 3m 51s

Who Needs Civic Integration Programme in Belgium? What is that?

In the Flanders region of Belgium, all non-EU new migrants residing in the Flemish community for more than three months are obliged to undergo a Civic Integration Programme. As for the EU citizens, the programme is optional for them.

On the other hand, the unusual trait is that immigrants residing in Wallonia have no obligation to follow such an Integration Programme. In another word, it is solely the initiative of the Flemish Government.

The Civic Integration Program consists of two separate modules which can run concurrently or separately depending on the chosen schedules:

Importance of Civic Integration Programme

Why is it Important to take the Civic Integration Programme? Here are some practical reasons to kickstart your interest in it.

1) Know More about Belgium and Its Culture

In the Social Orientation Course (NL: inburgering), newcomers would find it useful to understand some of the facts and practices in Belgium. Thus, they would settle better in Flanders receiving the valuable information. The integration programme will also focus on your residing city and current happening too.

2) Increase Job Employability

The Flemish Government spends money and resources on new immigrants to attend Dutch courses. Consequently, this is to facilitate them to find a job with less difficulty and better acceptance from the employers. Without the knowledge of the Dutch language, it is near to impossible to find a decent job or something that you really like to do. Almost all the jobs in the Flemish labour market requires one to speak Dutch up to an acceptable level.

People who can also speak French has an added advantage. Therefore, I am referring to the majority of the Belgians who can manage three languages fluently – Dutch, French and English. Despite that, there are some professions in Belgium in which speaking Dutch is not mandatory. One good example is the IT industry where the technical skill sets are more in demand rather than the language requirement.

3) Make New Friends

You will meet newcomers from all walks of life in both the Social Orientation Course and the Dutch Courses. They may or may not share the same kind of background similar to you. Some live in Belgium for a few years whereas some are here for a few months. Nevertheless, the Civic Integration Programme gives an excellent opportunity to form some genuine friendships out of this group of people.

4) Social Interaction

How is it like to interact with others who have a different background entirely? We open up our view of other cultures, mentalities and the way they think about certain topics. Due to differing perspectives, we learn to handle disagreement in a more positive light. From the courses followed, I understand particularly more about refugees and their situations. They have circumstances of not what I have perceived previously.

5) Integration Policy Obligation

It is mandatory for non-EU citizens to comply with the integration policy regardless of whether they like to attend the courses or not. Those who do not comply may get a fine from the government for not following the law.

The immigrants in Brussels Capital have no obligation to attend the integration programme at this moment. So, it is an optional choice for them. But soon, in 2018, they may have to undergo the Civic Integration Course if the bill passes through successfully.

To administrate the requirement, one legislation that kicked in on the 25 January 2017 requires all new migrants to provide evidence for their integration effort in Belgium. Henceforth, the Immigration Office can end a person right to stay in Belgium for non-compliance after the date.

In addition to the existing law, the other proposed law not gazetted yet is for migrants outside the EU to sign an integration pledge obligatorily. Likewise, failing to comply with the new law will lead to a termination of residency rights in Belgium.

Civic Integration Programme Registration

In the interest of learning Dutch in Belgium, one does not register directly with the CVO schools for the Dutch Language Course. Firstly, always go to an association that organises the Integration Programme. In Antwerp, the Atlas, Integratie & Inburgering Antwerpen is the place to register for the Civic Integration Programme for both the Social Integration and the Dutch Language Courses.

Similarly, in Brussels, BON – Agentschap Integratie & Inburgering would be able to provide directions to both the mentioned courses. For the Civic Integration Programme of all other cities, check out the main website of Agentschap Integratie & Inburgering which provides you with all the office contact details in Flanders.

For newcomers who come to Belgium under a Family Reunion Visa, on the day of receiving the Orange Card at the Gementeehuis, you can also ask for the Civic Integration Programme or a Dutch Language Course. Over there, you get to speak to someone responsible for the Integration Program. In my case, the person in charge is not around. So, I went directly to Atlas on the same day to ask for an appointment.

What to Expect for First Appointment?

» Integration Programme Registration

For those residing in Antwerp, you can register at the  Atlas counter. Bring along your identity card, residence permit or Orange Card. Passport is not required in this instance because you need a Belgian National Number to be eligible for the Civic Integration Programme registration. Subsequently, the counter staff will give you an appointment date to have an interview with one of the assessors there. Alternatively, you can also make a call to Atlas to get the first appointment.

» Interview with the Assessor

For the first Civic Integration Programme appointment, allow up to three hours with the interviewer. During the interview session, the assessor will create a profile for you by asking questions about your purpose in Belgium. Some questions asked are education level, work experience, family situation and language skills. In general, the conversation is all about getting to know you and your plans in Belgium.

» Cognitive Skills Assessment

It is a common practice to take a logic proficiency test in many Flemish cities to test the cognitive skills of an individual. However, in Atlas, they abolish the rule of the assessment for highly educated people. The evaluation primarily focuses on new immigrants with low literacy levels from all walks of life. As a result, Atlas can place them into the appropriate Social Integration and Dutch class according to their learning ability.

» Date Selection for Social Integration and Dutch Course

After the individual profile interview, the assessor will go through the date availability of the Social Integration and Dutch Course. You can select the schedule based on your preference accordingly. If a person is not able to confirm the date selection for either one of the courses on that day, he has to come back again for the course registration. At the same time, the assessor gives another appointment to meet with the Programme Counsellor at the same place.

Programme Counsellor

For those newly arrived, a Trajectbegeleider also known as the Program Counsellor or the Course Coordinator guides all newcomers in Flanders so they can integrate more easily into the society. He is like a personal assistant who provides all sorts of advice during the integration period. This friend is a (free) gift deriving from the participation of the Civic Integration Programme.

My Programme Counsellor is Harmen from Atlas House. There would be a second round of interviews with the Programme Counsellor to understand the newcomer better and to introduce his role to them too. However, the interview would likely be shorter because the Programme Counsellor can refer to the profile of a person inside the database created during the conversation with the first assessor.

» Role of Programme Counsellor

In fact, the role of a Programme Counsellor is very diversified. During the entire integration period, they can help us in some of the following ways:

• Assist us in the direction of finding a job.
• Help to get our academic certificates from abroad to be recognised in Belgium.
• Find a hobby and interest group to help the newcomers to pass their time in a more productive manner.
• Additional language activities to improve our Dutch.
• Family Counselling – Different types of schools for children.
• Engage in volunteering work appropriate for our Dutch level. The minimum Dutch level is 1.2 to become a volunteering social worker.
• Many others are still unknown to me at this moment until I need them, I would check with my Programme Counsellor again. In short, ask them anything you want to know.

Truly an ingenious system with such resources given by the Flemish Government to have someone with you along the way. At least for the first few months to a year should we face problems with certain issues while settling down and integrating in Belgium. In conclusion, I would say that this person is a friend for life on a professional level.

Equivalence of Diplomas

One of the most important tips that my Programme Counsellor had given me was to get my academic qualification equalised to that of Belgian educational standard. It is especially important if one is interested in working for the Belgian Civil Service in future.

On the contrary, it is less crucial for those planning to work in the private sector as not all employers will ask for equalised diplomas. The recruiters may only assess you based on your working experience and your performance during the job interview.

The time taken for the equalisation of diplomas is around six months. For the equivalence of certificates, one has to produce the following to the Programme Counsellor:-

1) Certificates
2) Transcript
3) Course Outline

Alternatively, if one prefers to do the Equivalence of Diploma himself, he can do so. Depending on which region he comes from – French, Flemish or German-speaking Community, he would consult the different departments in charge on the website.

NARIC-Vlaanderen is another site where you can do the equivalence of diploma by yourself. The illustrated steps are rather clear on the website. Therefore, it will be easy to submit your academic qualification online. On the other hand, isn’t it better to have a Programme Counsellor to help us with the paperwork as he is more familiar with the system?

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Harmen from Atlas House Antwerpen for enlightening me along the way and offering his help at all times. Not forgetting my first assessor, Tarik, who has provided me with first-hand information during my first interview in Atlas.

Future Integration Programme in Brussels

If the agreement between the French Communal Commission and the Flemish Communal authorities goes through, long-termed residents in Brussels will have to undergo the integration process similar to Flanders in 2018. Non-EU adults below the age of 65 who have been living in Brussels for less than three years are obligated to adhere to the new policy.

Newcomers have to take the Integration course within six months upon arrival after their registration in the population register. The good news is that they can choose to take French or Dutch Courses in Brussels. Failing to comply with the regulation may lead to a fine of €2,500 in severe circumstances and €100 every two months.

BON – Agentschap Integratie & Inburgering in Brussels provides some useful information about Integration Programme in View and Dutch as the second language in the capital.

Location of Agentschap Integration and Inburgering (Civic Integration Offices)

Below is a list of Flanders regions including Brussels which you can locate the city for your Civic Integration Programme registration. Each region will have addresses of the integration offices under it.

• Headquarters
• Region Brussels
• Region Antwerp
• Antwerp City – Atlas
• Region Limburg
• Region East Flanders
• Region Flemish Brabant
• Region West Flanders