Like our Double Dutch Haarlem Facebook page or follow us on Instagram and keep yourself informed about new to start Dutch courses. We also post good tips, fun facts and activities that are of interest to students of different levels.

When you tell the register you want to learn Dutch, you'll receive a free membership card for a year. With this you can borrow books and make use of their services for free. The library has a special section with books for learning Dutch. When you ask at the counter, they'll tell you where it is. They also offer some free info sessions called 'Taalspreekuur', where you can ask everything about learning Dutch, and they offer reading and conversation. Check the website of bibliotheek Zuidkennemerland for activities in and around Haarlem.

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Make sure to get your hands on one of these books for some self study

• Nederlands in Gang (we work with this one for evening courses)

• De Opmaat

• Klare Taal

• Contact 1

• Taaltalent 1

There are many volunteers in Haarlem/The Netherlands who help people with learning Dutch. Two organizations in Haarlem can help you finding a taalcoach and they offer a free service to connect you. These taalcoaches are 'vrijwiligers' (volunteers) and local ‘Haarlemmers’. They are not teachers, but are great to practice your Dutch with! You can meet up for a coffee and if you connect, practice together for1-2 hours per week for a few months to max. a year. There are also possibilities to practice online. 
 

Taaly - Practice the language in pairs. Taaly is a 1-on-1 training platform that connects new Dutch learners with natives. You practice the Dutch language using video chat with a native speaker to eventually be able to communicate with everyone and find your place in society. https://taaly.nl/en We're very proud to say one of our former students is one of the forces behind this great initiative!

VWC/Gilde samenspraak is for anyone in Haarlem who's looking for a taalcoach. Go to https://www.haarlemvoorelkaar.nl/taalcoach-vinden for more info and to set up a free appointment. Note: the intake will mostly be in Dutch, so you should be able to understand a bit of Dutch. 

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Taalcoaches Zuid Kennemerland is exclusively for 'statushouders' (refugees). Send an e-mail to Clara Wittop Koning with your personal details and some info about yourself to be connected to a taalcoach.   

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Het begint met taal • Kletsmaatjes • online

https://www.hetbegintmettaal.nl/kletsmaatjes/ for anyone who'd like to practice conversational Dutch online with a 'vrijwilliger'. A great place to get an (extra) taalcoach. 

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NLvoorelkaar.nl • Nextdoor.nl •  Haarlem.buuv.nu

These websites offer a way to connect with people in your neighborhood. Our students have found taalcoaches here and also were able to help/do voluntary work for people in need. Think of elderly people who need help with groceries, in their garden/with their computer or just a chat over a cup of coffee. It's a great way to start feeling at home and to connect with Dutch people. 

The following websites are all free and excellent for getting a head start. Anything you'll do from these great websites will increase the outcome of your course. 

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www.oefenen.nl has an extensive selection of programs. Choose 'taal' and start with the programs with one star (easiest). With regular practice on this website, you can reach A1 for free!

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www.basisexameninburgering.nl

With this website, you'll work on A0-A1 vocabulary, alphabet & numbers.

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www.stationnederlands.nl

This one will help you with basic conversations, listening and forming sentences. Just fill out your name & date of birth and start with the 'Opstartlessen'. 

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www.nt2taalmenu.nl

This website offers good exercises for all levels.

www.lyricstraining.com

Fun and a great way to practice spelling, listening and also implicitly learn about word order, pronunciation (esp. if you sing along :-).

https://www.nt2.nl/en/dossier

The section RELEVANT NT2-DOSSIERS offers good reliable information in English about the different exams.

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Use apps like Duolingo, Quizlet or Memrise to practice vocabulary. 

When getting ready for Dutch classes, learn these handy sentences & questions by heart.

Double Dutch Haarlem has a special Dutch playlist on Spotify. Listening to Dutch music will help you develop an 'ear' for the language. Also, it will help you learn grammar, such as word order and vocabulary implicitly and you will get a feel for the language. 

Watch the news for kids on www.jeugdjournaal.nl. It's simple, far more uplifting than the adult version and excellent for people learning Dutch. Even if you don't understand what they're talking about, just keep watching every day and see for the first few weeks if you can pick up some words that you do know.

Later on, watch an item and see if you are able to write some words/sentences about what you've seen (Ik zie een vrouw en een man, een auto, etc.). You will get better at it after a few weeks, just give yourself  (your ears) some time to adjust to the Dutch sounds, tongue, melody, etc.). Download the Jeugdjournaal app to your phone. 

Double Dutch Haarlem has a cosy class room we have our very own boat too! In the summer we go out for conversational cruises with the help of some volunteers. The boat is fully sustainable aluminium, super stable and electrical, hence very quiet and perfect for practicing your Dutch in a relaxt atmosphere. For Dutch conversation on the Haarlem waters, follow our Facebook page to find out what & where. You’ll need your ‘vaardiploma’, which you can get here via Quizlet. 

Join our fun & 'gezellige events like our Taalcafé Coffee & Dutch & Dutch on a boat, organized by us, Double Dutch Haarlem. Check www.doubledutchhaarlem.nl/dutch-events-haarlem. The Gemeente Haarlem sponsors our events with the corona subsidies. With a strippenkaart you only pay €5,- per event. 

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Expats Haarlem has a Meetup group that organizes lot of activities and monthly language cafés where you can put your Dutch to practice. 

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Haarlem Mozaïek organizes the Praathuis regularly for 'statushouders'. 

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The libraries in and around Haarlem organise a lot of activities for learning Dutch. For speaking specifically there's the 'Taalsoos'. 

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For voluntary work, there are a few ways to do this:

Contact www.haarlemvoorelkaar.nl/ for more info. 

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Want to help out fellow Haarlemmers directly? haarlem.buuv.nu/ is a supply & demand platform that connects people directly who want to help out & have a question. It's in Dutch so ask a Dutch person to help you on your way. 

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www.welcomeapp.nl/en/

This simple and dynamic tool activates locals and newcomers to connect and engage socially and professionally, both online and offline. 

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friend4friend.nl is for young newcomers between the ages of 18-27 to find a friend, talk Dutch and do voluntary work together. 

If you enjoy what you’re doing, learning anything will go faster and more efficient. There are many ways to learn Dutch. It’s not easy, but be sure to find the right things for you. Did you know Double Dutch is the double rope jumping? It’s a great metaphor for learning a language: You can only learn by doing, the more you practice, the better you get at it, so jump in, get started and immerse as much as you can. The more you practice, the better you get at it.

It’s a social skill, so find others to practice together. Make sure you’re having fun doing it. Anyone can learn! Use music to help you get into the rhythm. “Zet ‘m op!” (good luck & succes!) We hope to see you in the future at Double Dutch Haarlem!