A Dutch language certificate from Examinizer shows your CEFR level, from A1 to C2, based on an adaptive test you take online. Grammar, vocabulary, and reading questions adjust in difficulty as you answer, placing you at your actual level in about 25 minutes. Your result appears instantly, and a PDF certificate with a QR verification code costs €8.
What the Certificate Proves
The certificate states a single CEFR level for your general Dutch ability, drawn from how you performed across grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension questions during the adaptive test. It does not break your result down into separate scores for speaking, writing, listening, and reading the way the NT2 Staatsexamen does. Instead, it gives a quick, single-number snapshot of where you stand on the six-point CEFR scale, from the first phrases of A1 to near-native C2.
Every certificate carries a QR code linking to a verification page, so anyone who receives your PDF can confirm it was actually issued by Examinizer and check the date it was generated. This matters more than it might seem: recruiters, language schools, and HR teams increasingly check documents before trusting them, and a working verification link separates a real result from a screenshot someone edited.
Who Accepts It
Recruiters use it as a quick screening signal on a CV or LinkedIn profile, especially for roles where Dutch is a secondary skill rather than the core qualification for the job. Language schools sometimes accept it to place new students in the right starting class, and it works well as your own reference point before you commit money or time to a formal exam.
It is not a substitute for the NT2 Staatsexamen where a university or employer explicitly requires that DUO-administered exam by name. The Staatsexamen is proctored, split into Programme I and Programme II, and it's the version institutions are bound to trust for admissions and formal employment tracks. Examinizer's certificate also isn't sufficient for formal inburgering (civic integration) documentation: that requires the official DUO exam or an approved alternative, not an informal online result. If your goal is legal proof for civic integration or a specific university requirement, this certificate won't satisfy it, no matter how well you scored.
How to Get It
- Take the free adaptive Dutch test: 25 questions, about 25 minutes, no registration required.
- See your CEFR level instantly on screen as soon as you finish the last question.
- Pay €8 to download the PDF certificate with your name, level, and QR verification code.
No registration required to take the test
CEFR Levels Explained
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| A1 | Beginner — understands and uses basic phrases for everyday needs |
| A2 | Elementary — handles simple, routine tasks and short exchanges |
| B1 | Intermediate — manages most situations while traveling or at work |
| B2 | Upper-Intermediate — converses fluently on familiar topics with ease |
| C1 | Advanced — communicates fluently and spontaneously on complex subjects |
| C2 | Proficiency — understands virtually everything with near-native precision |
Try a Live Dutch Test by Level
Want to see the test format for a specific level before deciding on a certificate? These live Dutch tests are already running.
- ✓ Dutch A1 Test — beginner level check
- ✓ Dutch A2 Test — elementary level check
- ✓ Dutch B1 Test — intermediate level check
- ✓ Dutch B2 Test — the level most Dutch-taught programs require
- ✓ Dutch C1 Test — advanced level check
- ✓ Dutch C2 Test — proficiency level check
Using Your Certificate
Once you have the PDF, the next step is usually adding it to a CV or a LinkedIn profile. See our guides on adding a language certificate to your CV and adding it to LinkedIn for the exact steps. Prefer a skill-specific test instead of the general level check? Try the Dutch Grammar Test or the Dutch Vocabulary Test.
See all CEFR levels and languages on the main certificate hub, or browse the full list of tests to try a different language.
Common Questions About the Dutch Language Certificate
No. The NT2 Staatsexamen is the official Dutch-as-a-second-language exam, administered by DUO and split into Programme I and Programme II, and it's the version universities and skilled-employment tracks name explicitly. Examinizer's certificate comes from a free, unproctored adaptive test you take online in about 25 minutes, with the PDF costing €8. Use the Staatsexamen when an institution requires it by name. Use Examinizer for a fast, low-cost read on your level before you commit to the official exam.
No, not for the official paperwork. The standard inburgering exam requires A2, and the stronger track under the 2022 civic integration law goes up to B1 for some groups, but both must be completed through the DUO-administered exam or an approved alternative. Examinizer's certificate is informal and useful for tracking your own progress, but it doesn't satisfy the legal documentation requirement for civic integration.
Some. German and Dutch share a large amount of vocabulary and similar verb-second word order, so German speakers often read Dutch faster than learners starting from zero. False friends catch people out constantly (mogen, bellen, and slim don't mean what they look like), Dutch pronunciation and vowel sounds work differently, and Dutch dropped the case system German kept. Treat the overlap as a head start on vocabulary, not a shortcut through Dutch grammar.
Yes, with a caveat. Standard Dutch (Standaardnederlands) is shared across the Netherlands and Flanders, and it's what this test assesses. Flemish speech includes regional vocabulary and softer pronunciation of certain consonants, but the grammar and core vocabulary the test checks apply equally to both varieties. If your goal is a Belgian workplace, expect some local words in daily conversation that a Standaardnederlands test won't cover.
B1 covers many entry-level and customer-facing roles where you need to get by in daily conversation. B2 is what most Dutch-taught bachelor's programs and skilled professional roles ask for, and it lines up roughly with NT2 Staatsexamen Programme II. Client-facing or management positions sometimes expect C1. Always check the specific job posting rather than assuming one level applies everywhere.