If you're thinking about learning Dutch, you might be wondering if Duolingo's Dutch course is right for you.
Dutch is more or less spoken30 million peopleas a first or second language. That's itthird most common Germanic languagein English and German, and is aofficial languagein the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, South Africa and Namibia (the last two in Afrikaans)!
But is Duolingo good for learning Dutch?
In this article, we've covered everything you need to know about Dutch on Duolingo.
We look at:
- How Duolingo's Dutch course is structured
- Special features
- Other features you should know
- The benefits of the Duolingo Dutch course
- The disadvantages of the Duolingo Dutch course
Ready to dive in?
Let's go!
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What You'll Find in the Duolingo Dutch Course
If you're new to Duolingo, it's worth noting that all Duolingo courses are structured the same way.
They all follow what is commonly known as thelesson tree.*

Basically…
The tree is divided into a series ofunits…

Each unit has a set ofcapabilities…

Each skill has up to 6crown levels…

And each crown level has a number ofInstruction…

The basic objective is to progress through the tree by completing each lesson... each level... each skill... each unit.
from August 2022,The Duolingo Dutch course consists of 6 units in total, divided by the total123 skills. That means there are615 crown levels on Duolingo Dutch course(o738if you include themlegendary levels).
The exercises in the Dutch course are basically the same as in all other courses. Some of the common exercises you will encounter are:
- complete the translation
- Mark the correct meaning
- picture cards
- Choose the missing word
- mix of phrases
- say this sentence
- tap in pairs
- translation
- play what you hear



*Duolingo is transitioning its courses to a new format known as the Learning Path. So far, it has only been implemented for a handful of users, leaving most users with the traditional lesson tree at the top. However, if your Dutch course seems different from the previous one, you probably have the new teaching route. Moneythis postDuolingo to learn more!
Does the Duolingo Dutch course have any special features?
While English speakers can learn nearly 40 different languages on Duolingo, it's important to note that not all courses are created equal.
Some courses have features that others do not, such as:stories,audio lessonsYpodcasts.
from August 2022,The Duolingo Dutch Coursecurrently does not have stories, audio lessons or podcasts.
However, there is an unofficial way to get Dutch stories...
Duolingo Dutch Stories
While Duolingo's Dutch course doesn't currently include stories, there is an unofficial option.
Duohistorisis a community project that brings official Duolingo stories to other languages.
As of August 2022, they have managed to create 36 Dutch stories for English speakers.


It's completely free and works just like the official Duolingo app stories. Check for safety!
More resources on the Duolingo Dutch course
The Duolingo Dutch course is based on the same material as all other Duolingo language courses.
We won't go into too much detail here, but some of the features worth knowing about are:
- PHYSICAL EDUCATION- As you progress through the Duolingo Dutch course, you will gain experience points, commonly known as XP. You gain XP for almost everything you do. Some lessons, missions and exercises will give you more XP than others.
- The league- Each week you will be placed in a league with other Duolingo students. There are 10 leagues starting in Bronze and ending in Diamond. Leagues are basically leaderboards - just earn more XP than others in your league for a chance to win.
- exasperated- XP and crowns aren't the only things you gain from learning Dutch. You also earn gems to spend on DuolingoBusiness. There really isn't much to buy here, but you can use your gems to get things like streak freezes, bonus abilities, and time boosts.timed challenges, and some costumes for the owl.
- Friends- Duolingo is a social experience, so you can follow other users and compare your progress. The guys at Duolingo estimate that if you follow others, you'll be 5 times more likely to complete your course! To help you get started, feel free to follow me: my username isDCiiiee!
- Duolingoadvance/Super– This is Duolingo's premium subscription. Paying for Plus/Super gives you access to some useful features, includinghearts, no ads andpractice center.
Is Duolingo good for learning Dutch?
Now to answer the most important question:Is Duolingo good for learning Dutch?
Let's look at some pros and cons.
Benefits
suitable for beginners
Learning a new language can be quite intimidating, especially if you only speak English.
So one of the best things about Duolingo is how accessible and welcoming it is.
No matter what language you're learning, Duolingo presents its courses in a truly warm, vibrant and inclusive way. Whether this is your second or tenth language, you can feel comfortable right away!
For the most part, Dutch is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. It's kind of a middle ground between English and German, so naturally English speakers will notice a lot of overlap. Many of the words are the same or similar and the grammar is not overly complicated compared to many other European languages.
In turn, Duolingo will introduce you to all the essential details of Dutch. The course is filled with a variety of materials that smoothly introduce new words and concepts in a way that naturally brings you up to speed.
Duolingo's Dutch course also includes the usual placement test when you start, so you can be sure you're starting your tree from a place that's convenient for you.
Funny!
This doesn't just apply to the Duolingo Dutch course, it applies to EVERYONE!
One of the best things about Duolingo is that it's more than just a language learning tool.
it's also a game. And while this isn't for everyone, it's largely why so many people show up every day to take their daily classes.
Everything you do in Dutch earns you XP (experience points) which contribute to your position in the weekly leagues.

Now that's not something you should takeaseriously (you can read more about whyHere), but taking it easy will definitely make your Dutch a lot more enjoyable.
Because the more you like something, the more likely you are to do it. And since learning Dutch requires you to show up regularly for a long time, Duolingo could be the perfect solution.
frei
Another great thing about Duolingo is thatThe Dutch course is 100% free.
There is a premium subscription, Duolingo Plus/Super, but this is not something you need to complete the course. Everything is completely free; The premium subscription just adds a few features that make things a little easier.
This is great if you're just learning Dutch and not ready to commit yet. But also if you want to get started with the language but don't want to shell out for any special software or tutoring.
super motivating
I think you've seen the owl memes?
Yes, the owl can be *a little* stalker at times and harass you 24/7 to do your daily Dutch lessons.
But relax, contrary to popular belief, he's not going to kidnap your family any time soon!
Joke aside,Duolingo is great for keeping you motivated.
Learning Dutch takes time. It's not something you'll learn overnight.
According toUnited States Foreign Service Institute, it takes between 600 and 750 "teaching hours" to achieve "Professional Work Competence" in Dutch.
So yes, if you want to learn Dutch, you need to do it for the long term!
That means creating an unbreakable habit. And Duolingo is great for that.
Let's put it this way: my current streak (i.e. the number of days in a row I've used Duolingo) goes back to May 2016.
And it's not just because I'm a little obsessive! That's because Duolingo is a great way to get motivated!
Disadvantages
brief introduction
Duolingo is a great way to start learning Dutch. But at some point you have to look further if you want to move forward.
It is becauseDuolingo's Dutch course, while far from the shortest, is still pretty short. Although each skill has up to 6 levels, you can complete the course at level 1 in a relatively short period of time.
Compared to some of the more popular Duolingo courses likeFrench,SpanishYGermanThere's not that much content.
And, as I mentioned, you don't get any of Duolingo's fancier new features, like stories or audio lessons. This means that Duolingo's Dutch course can only take you so far.
no advice or explanations on mobile
As an iOS user, this is probably one of my biggest issues with Duolingo's Dutch course.
Although Dutch is not that difficult for English speakers to understand, it still needs a little bit of guidance when it comes to grammar. Unfortunately, Duolingo's Dutch course does very little about this.
While the desktop version of the course offers tips and explanations, these are not viewable on mobile devices.
You'll have to find explanations for things like conjugations, genders, and tenses.
This can be a little frustrating, as many of Duolingo's mobile courses come with hint sections that make the lessons much clearer. Since they are already available for desktop, I don't understand why they are not available for mobile as well.
not good at talking
This is the case for most language courses on Duolingo.
Duolingo is great for handling the listening and reading side of a language. You even have a chance to practice your pronunciation.
But when it comes to speaking in a real-world setting, the Duolingo Dutch course won't get you there alone.
The problem is that speaking exercises are notConversationexercises. You'll get some practice in the conversation mode of the stories, but that just involves reciting what the characters say. You don't really come up with your own answers.
Speaking is a skill in itself and to learn it you need to practice it regularly, ideally with a native speaker or at least with a program that includes conversation scenarios (likeHolandaPod101).
hearts
If you've read any of my other articles, you know that one of the things I don't like about Duolingo right now is this.Herzsystem.
Hearts are basically lives or chances. You start with 5 and then you lose every time you make a mistake.
If you lose all your hearts, you must not continue your course until your hearts are replenished.

You can watch an ad to get one back, do a practice session, spend some gems, or wait 5 hours.
It is far from ideal, asdoes the pointless thing to punish you for mistakes.
Which I think is ridiculous, as mistakes in language learning are absolutely necessary and unavoidable.
Diploma
Whether you're a complete beginner or just want to learn Dutch, Duolingo's Dutch course is definitely a great place to start.
You will learn the basics of the language, learn pronunciation and learn a lot of useful vocabulary.
You'll also have a lot of fun progressing through the course while competing in weekly leagues and alongside your friends!
By the end of the course you will definitely be more advanced than when you started.
However, as the course consists of only 6 units,You also need to use other resources if you want to become fluent.
The Duolingo Dutch course alone could probably get you up to the A2 level in reading and listening (provided you also learn enough passively).
A good tool to use, whether in conjunction with Duolingo or after completing the course, isHolandaPod101.
DutchPod and Duolingo complement each other perfectly as both target areas fall short. Duolingo is great for reading and writing, while DutchPod is great for improving listening and speaking.
With DutchPod you also get important features like grammar packs, cultural information and learn the most common 2000 Dutch words; therefore, by the end of the course, you will be able to understand up to 80% of all conversations in Dutch.
Using Duolingo and DutchPod together gives you everything you need to reach a comfortable level of Dutch.
if you are new to dutch...
I recommend taking the Duolingo placement test, finding out what level you are at, and then working through the first few units in the tree. This will introduce you to the basics of Dutch.
At the same time, I recommend using it.DutchPod Free Trialto familiarize yourself with the sounds of the language, learn some useful idioms and cultural insights, and practice speaking as often as possible.
Once you've worked your way through the Duolingo course, I would recommend coming back to it every day to keep the streak alive (habit is VERY important when learning a language) and start working on the intermediate to advanced packages to move DutchPod. .
Finally, make sure you get enough passive exposure to Dutch as well. It's really important to experience the language in an authentic environment like TV shows, music, books, real conversations, so you can see how everything you learn on Duolingo and DutchPod works in the real world.
FAQs
Can I become fluent in Dutch on Duolingo? ›
Can you learn Dutch with Duolingo? Yes, there is a Dutch course available on Duolingo. The Duolingo app is a good way to learn the basics of Dutch, but you'll never become conversational or fluent by using Duolingo.
How long does it take to finish Dutch on Duolingo? ›Jokes aside, Duolingo is brilliant for keeping you motivated. Learning Dutch takes time. It's not something you're going to pick up overnight. According to the US Foreign Service Institute, it takes roughly 600-750 “class hours” to reach “Professional Working Proficiency” in Dutch.
What Duolingo level is B2? ›Duolingo | CEFR |
---|---|
100-125 | B2 |
Duolingo can't make you fluent by itself
But there are two sides to any learning process: Active and Passive. Duolingo nails the active but offers very little in respect of the passive.
Your Dutch writings are clear, well structured and detailed even about complex subjects. C2. Bilingual level : You are speaking Dutch fluently.
What happens when you reach 100 days on Duolingo? ›Reaching certain milestones (such as 100 day streak) can earn the user 3 days free of Super Duolingo.
What happens after 365 days of Duolingo? ›You reach the first tier once you hit a 365-day streak. After that, it goes up every year, and this will be reflected on your weekly leaderboards and profile page. So if you keep the flame burning for 3 years, you'll have a little 3-year badge underneath your username.
Can I learn Dutch in 3 months? ›Learning Dutch has never been so easy! Learn to speak Dutch in just three months with this practical and comprehensive self-study language course. Whether you're a complete beginner or wanting to refresh your knowledge, Hugo: Dutch in Three Months will have you speaking Dutch fluently in just 12 weeks.
Is B2 considered fluent? ›Level B2: Basic Fluency
Reaching B2 is generally considered by most people as having basic fluency. You'll have a working vocabulary of around 4000 words.
What level of Duolingo is fluent? ›
At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.
Does B2 mean fluent? ›Level B2 corresponds to independent users of the language, i.e. those who have the necessary fluency to communicate without effort with native speakers.
How many people actually finish a Duolingo course? ›An informal study estimates that course completion rates fall as low as 0.01% for Spanish learners (second most popular language on Duolingo), and peak at 0.24% for Ukrainian learners.
How long should I use Duolingo per day? ›You don't need to spend hours on Duolingo each day. However, you must put a reasonable amount of time into learning. If you log in to complete one lesson and sign out as soon as you've reached 10XP, you won't get very far. To optimize your learning, aim to spend between 15 and 30 minutes on the app each day.
Is Duolingo better than Babbel? ›The biggest difference between Babbel and Duolingo is the approach to language learning. Babbel is a better option if you want traditional language instructions through modules and lessons. By contrast, Duolingo works great if you need a playful, gamified experience.
What is the hardest part of learning Dutch? ›- 1 Deciding. The first obstacle is a mean one. ...
- 2 Finding Time. If you are like most people, then probably you have to work. ...
- 3 Pronunciation. ...
- 4 Words often have more than one meaning. ...
- 5 Dealing with pictures. ...
- 6 Anacondawords. ...
- 7 Order in the sentence. ...
- 8 The past tense.
It Depends On How Much You Practice
The Foreign Language Institute recommends a total of 24-30 weeks or 600-750 hours of Dutch language learning to reach fluency. Tobian Language School personally recommends 20 – 30 lessons for A2 level with a minimum of 2 weekly lessons.
You can spend years learning a language and still find words that you haven't come across before. But as a general guide, the Foreign Service Insitute in the US estimates it takes about 600 hours of class lessons (or 24 weeks) for a native English speaker to become fluent in Dutch.
What is the easiest language to learn if you know Dutch? ›Afrikaans – the easiest language to learn for both English and Dutch speakers. Afrikaans, the same as English, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, is a Germanic language.
Where is the purest Dutch spoken? ›The formal language of the Netherlands is Standard Dutch. It is spoken in its purest form in Haarlem, a city close to the capital Amsterdam. Standard Dutch is spoken throughout the Netherlands but there are also many regional languages and dialects.
Which country speaks Dutch the most? ›
They speak Dutch in the Netherlands
Most of the people who speak Dutch (about 17 million) live in the Netherlands. The Dutch language is a West Germanic language that is spoken by around 23 million people as a first language, and about 5 million people as their second language.
The streak is a fun and simple feature, but committing yourself to keeping one is also one of the best ways to stay on track of your learning goals. It's no wonder that Duolingo learners who reach a streak of just 7 days are 3.6 times more likely to complete their course.
What is the highest streak on Duolingo? ›The longest streak for a Duolingo employee right now is more than 3,000 days strong! We know our learners have extended their streaks in some wild and funny places – like the club, music festivals, and even on their wedding day!
What happens if Duolingo is too easy? ›Take a placement test.
2. If you have previous experience with a language and feel that lessons are too easy, you can scroll to the next locked unit and tap the circle that says “Jump here?”. If you pass the test, you'll unlock that unit! NOTE: This will complete all levels up to that point.
When you've maxed out a level on Duolingo, you will have the option to go back and practice it again. Two options are available: easy (10 XP) and hard (20 XP). Choose the harder option to explore more advanced parts of each level. To do a hard practice lesson, tap on any completed level and select Hard Practice.
What happens when you skip a day of Duolingo? ›A streak freeze on Duolingo allows you to pause (or in this case 'freeze') your streak. This means that if you miss a day — i.e. you don't login and complete any lessons — then your streak won't reset to 0. A streak freeze is basically a safety net that gives your streak that extra bit of protection.
What happens if you complete a language on Duolingo? ›Once you complete all the levels in a unit, you'll complete a challenge to earn your unit trophy. You'll also have the option to earn the Legendary trophy for each unit. NOTE: Super subscribers have unlimited attempts at Legendary.
How hard is it for an American to learn Dutch? ›3. How hard is it to learn? Dutch is probably the easiest language to learn for English speakers as it positions itself somewhere between German and English.
Why is learning Dutch difficult? ›The Dutch language has many irregular verbs. There are 200 irregular verbs with all sorts of different irregularities, and it's almost impossible to find a system. You say kopen (to buy)– ik kocht – ik heb gekocht, but then lopen (to walk) – ik liep – ik heb gelopen. There are no grammar rules for these verbs.
How hard is it to learn Dutch fluently? ›At first, Dutch might seem like a very difficult language, but it's surprisingly easy for English- and German-speakers. Dutch has even been described as a combination of the English and German languages! This makes it one of the easiest languages to learn for speakers of either language.
Is Duolingo enough for B2? ›
Duolingo claims users can reach B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. B2 is upper-intermediate level or basic fluency. It is considered sufficient to live and work in a country.
What level of fluency is fluent? ›Level five means you are entirely fluent in a language. You were raised speaking the language or have spoken it long enough to become proficient in it. Your accent is either nonexistent or barely recognizable.
What qualifies you as fluent? ›Linguists rarely agree on a single definition of second language fluency. But at ICLS, we offer a common-sense definition: a speaker achieves language fluency once they can confidently, competently, and easily express themselves in a language other than their own.
How many Duolingo levels should I do a day? ›Casual is one lesson per day, Regular is two, Serious is three, and Insane is five lessons in a day. I have my daily goal set to Serious, which requires completing three lessons daily, but I'll often do more lessons if I have the time, typically around five or six.
What is the hardest language to learn? ›Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center puts Mandarin in Category IV, which is the list of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers.
Do Duolingo levels get harder? ›Duolingo has organized the lessons so that with each crown you earn, the lessons get more difficult. I usually aim to earn more crowns in the subjects that I struggle with, like verb conjugations.
How good is B2 language level? ›Level B2 corresponds to a more advanced, more independent level than previous levels. A B2 user can communicate easily and spontaneously in a clear and detailed manner. This is not yet an experienced speaker, but a B2 user is able to understand and be understood in most situations.
How long does it take to get B2 in a language? ›Level of English (CEFR) | Number of hours of instruction |
---|---|
A1 to A2 | 150 hours |
A2 to B1 | 300 hours |
B1 to B2 | 200 hours |
B2 to C1 | 200 hours |
Level of English (CEFR) | Number of hours of instruction |
---|---|
Zero to A1 | 70 hours |
A1 to A2 | 150 hours |
A2 to B1 | 300 hours |
B1 to B2 | 200 hours |
That said, no course is ever complete (just look at all the changes Duolingo have made to the French and Spanish courses over the years!) so expect updates to continue long into the future!
What is the most studied language on Duolingo? ›
- English.
- Spanish.
- French.
- German.
- Japanese.
- Italian.
- Korean.
- Portuguese.
54% of Duolingo users are aged between 18 and 34 years,
This information can be used to better understand the demographics of the platform and to tailor content and services to the needs of the users. Additionally, it can be used to inform marketing strategies and to target potential users.
According to an independent study conducted by the City University of New York and the University of South Carolina, an average of 34 hours of Duolingo are equivalent to a full university semester of language education. You can see a full report of the study here.
What is the easiest language to learn? ›- Frisian. ...
- Dutch. ...
- Norwegian. ...
- Spanish. ...
- Portuguese. ...
- Italian. ...
- French. ...
- Swedish.
Plus, many users noticed that they would study and keep their streak up for days and days, and still not be able to speak the language or could only speak at an intermediate level. And this comes from a lack of human interaction and real speaking practice. So, no, you can't become fluent with Duolingo alone.
Is Rosetta Stone better than Duolingo? ›Yes. After thoroughly testing out and reviewing each language learning app, we found Rosetta Stone to be a superior program to Duolingo. While we like Duolingo's gamification of learning, Rosetta Stone is simply more comprehensive and effective.
Is there a better app than Duolingo? ›We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Duolingo, including Rosetta Stone, Busuu, Lingvist, and Mango Languages.
Can you realistically learn a language on Duolingo? ›Can Duolingo make me fluent? Research shows that Duolingo is an effective way to learn a language! But the truth is that no single course, app, method, or book can help you reach all your language goals.
How many people learning dutch on Duolingo? ›Studying | Users (millions) |
---|---|
Dutch | 5.40 |
Irish | 4.33 |
Turkish | 4.15 |
Norwegian | 2.85 |
Even with some of the well-developed courses, Duolingo may not be enough to completely teach a language to fluency. As mentioned earlier, Duolingo is great for getting a base in a language—but don't expect to get to advanced fluency on Duolingo alone.
What is the success rate of Duolingo? ›
The effectiveness measure showed that on average participants gained 8.1 points per one hour of study with Duolingo. The 95% Confidence Interval for the effectiveness is from 5.6 points to 10.7 points gained per one hour of study.
What happens when you finish a language in Duolingo? ›There is no such thing as a “finished” language course. So at Duolingo, we're always working to make our courses better! If you've gotten an update, it's because we're excited to share the latest changes to the existing course.
What is the least popular language on Duolingo? ›The least studied or least popular language on Duolingo is most likely High Valyrian.
Is there any point learning Dutch? ›2. Learning Dutch Helps with Practicalities. In addition to knowing basic words and phrases to live your new life somewhat independently, there are a few practical reasons too. For instance, knowing some Dutch makes reading restaurant menus, road signs, newspapers, and ingredient lists much easier.
What are the fastest ways to learn Dutch? ›Many language experts recommend immersion as the fastest way to become fluent in Dutch; move to the Netherlands, live with a host family and have every interaction in Dutch.
Should I learn two languages at once Duolingo? ›Consider studying just one language to start, until you have a solid foundation. (In Duolingo courses, that might mean getting through the first three units.) Once you have a good command of basic vocabulary, grammar, and building sentences, then try adding another language.
How long does it take to master Duolingo? ›Here's a breakdown of how long it would take to finish a language, based on the goal settings: 5 Minutes a Day: 4,650 days // 12.7 years. 10 Minutes a Day: 2,325 days // 6.4 years. 15 Minutes a Day: 1,550 days // 4.2 years.