From A1 to B1: What Dutch CEFR Levels Really Mean for Expats

At Dutch Online we often meet internationals who tell us, sometimes at events like the IamExpat Fair: “I want to reach B1.” The challenge? Many of them do not speak a word of Dutch yet.

Sep 30

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CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is the European standard used in courses, exams and even by Dutch municipalities. It runs from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native).

For expats in the Netherlands, the most relevant levels are A1, A2 and B1. These are also the levels you’ll hear about in integration requirements, workplace language expectations, and daily life.

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At A1 you can:

Introduce yourself and answer simple questions about name, age, nationality, work.
Order food and drinks, buy train tickets, ask for directions.
Write or understand very short texts like WhatsApp messages or simple forms.

Word count: about 800–1,000 words.

Study time: 60–100 hours with regular practice.

Daily life example: At A1 you can say “Ik ben Anna, ik kom uit Spanje. Ik werk in Amsterdam.” You still rely on English for anything more complex, but you can survive basic situations in Dutch.

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At A2 you can:

Handle routine tasks: shopping, appointments, short calls, emails.
Describe your daily life, routines and plans.
Talk about simple work-related tasks and follow short instructions.

Word count: about 2,000 words.

Study time: 150–200 hours in total.

Daily life example: You can call the huisarts to say “Ik heb koorts sinds gisteren, ik wil een afspraak maken.” You can follow school messages for your children and join in simple conversations with colleagues.

For many internationals, A2 is the level where life in the Netherlands starts to feel smoother.

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At B1 you can:

Understand the main points in meetings or news.
Join spontaneous conversations and express your opinions.
Write structured texts such as emails, short reports or letters.
Manage most situations that come up in work, study or daily life.

Word count: about 5,000+ words.
Study time: 350–400 hours in total.

Daily life example: At B1 you can say in a meeting “Ik ben het niet helemaal eens. Ik denk dat er een betere oplossing is.” You can also write to your landlord about a problem with your apartment without switching to English.

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The step from A2 to B1 is much larger than from A1 to A2. Why?

Vocabulary more than doubles (from ~2,000 to ~5,000 words).
You need to move from memorising patterns to producing flexible sentences.
Grammar becomes more complex: past tense, subordinate clauses, comparisons.

This is why many expats underestimate the effort: B1 is possible, but not without structure, daily practice, and long-term consistency.

We often meet learners who have taken months of conversation classes but still remain stuck at A2. The reason is simple: B1 requires input + practice + feedback. You need to see the structures, repeat them in exercises, and then apply them in conversation.

This is also why promises such as “A1 in two weeks” or “Fluent Dutch in one month” are misleading. Language learning takes time, repetition, and consistency.

You can make quick progress in basic phrases, but you will not build the vocabulary or grammar foundation needed for real levels like A2 or B1 in such a short time.

At Dutch Online we believe in honesty.

We don’t offer shortcuts that sound good but fail in reality.

Instead, we provide the right mix of learning methods to actually move forward:

E-learning for structure and grammar.
Smart Practice for unlimited repetition.
Speaking classes for confidence and real interaction.

This way you progress step by step, and stay motivated because your progress is real, not just promised.

Ready to start your own path to B1?

Join Dutch Online today. With our structured lessons, Smart Practice and speaking support, you’ll build confidence at every level.

Curious how we work? Find out here.

Ready to learn Dutch for real this time?

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At Dutch Online we often meet internationals who tell us, sometimes at events like the IamExpat Fair: “I want to reach B1.” The challenge? Many of them do not speak a word of Dutch yet.

Language & Learning