As a lover of the Dutch language still not yet fully fluent, I spent a while digging through recommendations for good Dutch schools to attend a Dutch course in the Hague. I’ve pulled together the best recommendations from friends who also have taken Dutch courses and some low-budget options for those without the money for a Dutch course.
the best dutch schools in the hague as recommended by expats
direct dutch
I did two of my Dutch courses at Direct Dutch, which came highly recommended to me. I’ve been generally happy with their approach, which puts an emphasis on every-day Dutch. At the lower levels, they use some English, however, a good teacher will be open to talking more in Dutch. The classes were a good size to chat, but it depends on the popularity of the course.
I recently did an intensive B1 course here and it definitely tightened up my grammar well. A friend of mine took a course here and liked it. Dutch is the only language taught here. The only downside is that they have their own text, which is not used at other schools.
taaltaal
I heard great things about TaalTaal, which teaches several languages in the Hague. The atmosphere is supposed to be good for learning and they use a standard Dutch text for courses, which is an advantage for those shopping between Dutch schools.
ABC Dutch
I also heard good things about ABC Dutch, which has medium to small groups (5-11 people). I heard very good things about the teaching style, which encourages discussion.
kickstart
A friend of mine swears by Kickstart. This language school in the Hague hosts quite a few courses ranging from slower to intensive with a schedule good for those working. Although it’s a bit more pricey, they use a standard textbook combined with a binder with all the work that you’ll need. My friend said that she found it very worthwhile and well-taught.
roc mondriaan
One of the cheapest Dutch schools in the Hague for a Dutch course is ROC Mondriaan. Although not everyone can sign-up due to the conditions of who is eligible for classes, the courses are extremely affordable and supposedly, good quality for the price. Check your eligibility if you’re on a budget!
Volksuniversiteit den haag
I’ve heard also great things about the Volksuniversiteit, which is a popular choice for those working towards inburgering. The courses are a fair amount of work (with quite a bit of homwork) and a fairly standard textbook is used. Their times are quite well-suited to those with a busy schedule and pricing is quite reasonable for what you get.
TU Delft
I realize that these are not fully in the Hague, but I’ve heard great things about their year-long (albeit a bit expensive) that will get you from beginner to fluent within a year. They use the well-known Delftse Method. It’s a lot of work, however, if you need fluent Dutch quickly for your work, it might be a good option. Their intensive courses are 40 hours per week, so plan accordingly!
low-budget options for those unable to afford a dutch course right now
If you’re on a lower budget, I recommend stopping by the Den Haag Centraal Bibliotheek (Central Library) and to get a library card. This will enable you to take out textbooks, regular books, and other related Dutch-learning materials. There’s a librarian there to help you determine the right level for you.
If you’re an immigrant to the Netherlands, you can take out a loan from DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs) from the government, which can be used for your Dutch education/coursework. It’s not ideal to have debt, however, this can help a lot for those in need of it.
I’ve been doing cheap tutorial lessons via italki (an app) with native Dutch speakers for about 10 euros per hour. A normal tutor is typically around 40 euros per hour, so this is a steal! I also recommend attending the free Dutch language cafes in the Hague, which are weekly. Some are geared towards beginners while others are geared towards higher levels. Click for my tips on practicing Dutch for free!
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