To write at B1 level in Dutch, you need to be able to write texts useful in daily interactions—both in public and in personal settings. Topics include complaint letters, adverts or social media posts, reports with arguments, feedback on presentations, newsletters, travel reports, and more.

These texts should express experiences, opinions, feelings, and reactions in a structured and grammatically correct way.

The writing exam is paper-based and consists of 4 separate exercises. One is usually a form or questionnaire, such as a gym membership application.

The other three tasks involve writing short texts about basic topics like: asking a neighbor to water your plants during your vacation, rescheduling a dentist appointment, sending a birthday invitation, or writing a letter to the municipality about parking issues.

Many people find the writing part the most challenging. You must write grammatically correct, descriptive texts within a short time and without access to dictionaries or spelling tools.

This means preparation is essential—knowing your grammar and spelling rules is key to success.

A. Daily Practice

Write one Dutch email per day to a colleague, friend, or family member. Avoid translation tools or spellcheckers—these slow your progress.

After writing, check for errors and ask for feedback. Learning from mistakes is essential in the beginning.

B. Start Small

Like the "crawl, walk, run" principle—begin with simple sentences and build from there. Focus on clarity before complexity.

C. Get Feedback

Ask native Dutch speakers to review your writing. Feedback helps you improve faster and avoid common mistakes.

D. Formal Lessons

Unless you're exceptionally gifted, formal training is highly recommended. Most people who attempt this exam without help don’t pass.

In our beginner and intermediate courses, we guide you through Dutch grammar and spelling step-by-step—starting with short sentences and progressing to more descriptive texts.

Your trainer provides direct feedback and support, ensuring you develop good habits from the start.

Contact us to get started with exam preparation or personalized lessons.

We offer structured online lessons tailored to the writing exam. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need help polishing your Dutch writing, we’re here to help. Reach out here.