Why December Is a Strange but Powerful Month for Learning Dutch

Learning Dutch feels harder in December. Discover why this is normal and how December can actually support long term language progress.
Dec 20

Routines & december

December often feels like a broken month.

Routines disappear, schedules shift, and learning Dutch suddenly feels harder than before.


For many internationals in the Netherlands, this creates frustration. Progress seems to slow down just when motivation was finally building. But research into learning and memory shows something important.


December is not a bad month for learning. It is a different one.

Why learning feels harder in December

December disrupts structure. Workdays are shorter, holidays interrupt routines, and social life often switches back to English. This combination affects language learning more than people realise.


Cognitive research shows that consistency is one of the strongest predictors of progress. When daily habits change, the brain experiences more friction. That friction often feels like failure, even when learning is still happening.


This is why many learners feel stuck in December, even if they have been doing well all year.

Less practice does not mean no progress

One common misconception is that progress only happens when you actively study. In reality, a large part of language learning happens during rest.


Neuroscience research shows that consolidation happens when the brain has space. During breaks, the brain reorganises information, strengthens connections and integrates patterns more deeply.


This means that periods of lower intensity can actually support long term progress, especially after months of consistent learning.

Why December is emotionally loaded

December is also a reflective month. People naturally look back at what they did and did not achieve. For language learners, this often triggers self criticism.


Educational psychology calls this outcome based evaluation. Learners focus on what they cannot yet do, instead of what has already become easier.


This is amplified in December because there are fewer visible wins. Fewer meetings, fewer social moments, fewer chances to use Dutch actively.


The learning has not disappeared. The feedback loop has.

The danger of quitting in a consolidation phase

Research on adult learning shows that many people quit just before a breakthrough. This often happens after a long period of effort followed by a quieter phase.


The brain is still working, but the learner interprets silence as stagnation.

December is exactly such a phase. Stopping entirely can undo momentum. Staying lightly engaged preserves it.

What actually helps in December

December is not the time to push harder. It is the time to adjust expectations.

What works better:

  • shorter practice moments

  • listening instead of producing

  • repetition of familiar material

  • low pressure exposure

  • maintaining the habit, not increasing it


Even five minutes a day keeps the neural pathway active.


Reframing December as part of the process

Language learning is not linear. It moves in cycles of effort, rest and integration.


December naturally becomes a month of integration. Accepting that helps reduce stress and prevents unnecessary quitting.


Learners who allow December to be lighter often return in January with more clarity and renewed energy.

A healthier way to measure progress

Instead of asking “What level did I reach this month”, better questions are:

  • Does Dutch feel more familiar than before

  • Do I recognise more words without translating

  • Do I understand tone better than last year


These are signs of deep learning, not surface progress.


Why this matters for living in the Netherlands

Dutch learning is closely tied to daily life. December changes daily life. Shops close earlier, offices slow down, social circles shrink.


Recognising that learning follows life, not the other way around, makes the process more sustainable.


Language learning works best when it adapts to reality, not when it fights it.

If December feels slower for your Dutch, you are not falling behind. You are consolidating.

Dutch Online is built to support this rhythm, with short lessons, listening based practice and flexible routines that fit real life.

FAQ: learning in december

Looking for more tips? Check out our other articles!