· 7 min read
Dutch vs English: Which Should You Learn?
By Language Lab editorial team
Dutch vs English: how similar they are, what differs, and which to learn. Dutch takes English speakers 24 weeks of classes; see speakers, exams and uses.
Dutch and English are close relatives. Both come from the same old Germanic root, they share many everyday words, and the US State Department places Dutch in Category I, the group it describes as languages close to English, at 24 weeks of classes. The BBC's guide calls Dutch probably the easiest language for English speakers to learn. The differences are specific: Dutch has two words for the, de and het, and often puts the verb at the end of the sentence. In scale they are far apart: the Taalunie's figures give 378 million native speakers of English and about 24 million speakers of Dutch. Learn English for international reach. Learn Dutch for a life in the Netherlands or Flanders, where the state diploma in Dutch is used for study, work, civic integration and naturalisation.
Side by side
| Dutch | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Family | West Germanic; a cousin of English and German | Germanic, from the same old root as Dutch |
| Words for the | Two: de and het | One: the |
| Verb position | Often at the end of the sentence | Earlier in the sentence |
| Formal and informal you | u and je or jij | One word: you |
| Speakers | About 24 million | 378 million native speakers, by the Taalunie's figures |
| Official exams | Staatsexamen Nt2 at B1 and B2; CNaVT from A2 to C1 | IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge English Qualifications, PTE Academic |
| Time to learn | 24 weeks of classes for an English speaker, by State Department figures | About 200 guided learning hours per level, by Cambridge English's guideline |
How similar are they?
Very, at the level of everyday vocabulary. The BBC's guide to Dutch explains that many Dutch words are similar to English ones because both languages come from the same old Germanic root, particularly names for everyday things such as fruit, vegetables and colours. It places Dutch somewhere between German and English.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| appel | apple |
| peer | pear |
| banaan | banana |
| tomaat | tomato |
| blauw | blue |
| rood | red |
| groen | green |
The traffic has gone both ways. Dutch settlers in the United States in the 17th century left words in American English: coleslaw from koolsla, cookie from koekje, and Santa Claus from Sinterklaas. Through Afrikaans, a language that grew out of Dutch, English also gained apartheid, wildebeest and aardvark.
Where they differ
- De and het. English has one article, the. Dutch has two, and the BBC's guide calls them quite possibly the hardest part to learn, because you have to memorise which article each noun takes.
- Verbs at the end. Dutch sentences often place the verb at the end, which takes some getting used to.
- Little mood words. Dutch uses particles such as nou, toch, maar and even to soften a command or sharpen a request. The guide notes that on the whole they have no direct translation in English.
- Two kinds of you. Dutch separates the formal u from the informal je or jij.
- Sounds. The sch of Scheveningen, and consonant clusters as in herfst, autumn.
- False friends. Kip is chicken, slagroom is whipped cream, and a Dutch café is more like a bar.
The same phrases in both
| English | Dutch |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| Goodbye | Tot ziens |
| Yes | Ja |
| No | Nee |
| How are you? | Hoe gaat het? |
| Do you speak English? | Spreekt u Engels? |
| My name is ... | Ik heet ... |
If you already speak English, why learn Dutch?
Because the official steps of life in the Netherlands run in Dutch. The Staatsexamen Nt2, the state exam of Dutch as a second language, is intended for people who wish to become Dutch citizens, work or study in the Netherlands. Its diploma can be used to meet the language requirements of the civic integration exam and for naturalisation. The exam board also notes that most Dutch schools and universities require proof of Dutch language proficiency, while stressing that institutions set their own admission requirements. For an English speaker the cost of getting there is low by the standard of other languages: 24 weeks of classes on State Department figures, with B1 and B2 below that end point.
If you speak neither, which first?
- For reach: English. ETS reports that the TOEFL iBT is accepted by over 13,500 institutions in more than 160 countries, and Cambridge says 50,000 schools in more than 130 countries use its exams.
- For the Netherlands, Flanders or Suriname: Dutch. It is an official language in six countries: the Netherlands, Belgium, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
- For effort: plan by level. Cambridge English's guideline for English is roughly 350–400 guided learning hours to reach B1 from zero and 500–600 for B2. The Dutch state exam certifies the same two levels, B1 and B2.
- For both: whichever you learn first helps with the second, since the two share a Germanic root and much everyday vocabulary.
Tests for each
| Dutch | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Main tests | Staatsexamen Nt2 (the Netherlands); CNaVT (worldwide) | IELTS; TOEFL iBT; Cambridge English Qualifications; PTE Academic |
| Levels | Nt2: B1 and B2. CNaVT: A2 to C1 | Scores or exams mapped to the European levels |
| Cost | Nt2: €50 for each of four exams | Varies by test and country |
| Validity | No expiry date | Depends on the test |
Language Lab offers both. Its Dutch and English courses are built around voiced real-life scenarios with an AI tutor.
Frequently asked
Is Dutch similar to English?
Yes. Both come from the same old Germanic root and share many everyday words, such as appel and apple, blauw and blue. The BBC's guide places Dutch somewhere between German and English.
Is Dutch easy for English speakers?
The BBC's guide calls it probably the easiest language for English speakers to learn, and the US State Department lists it at 24 weeks of classes in Category I, languages close to English.
What is the biggest difference between Dutch and English?
The BBC's guide points to the two articles, de and het, which have to be memorised for each noun, and to Dutch placing the verb at the end of many sentences.
Which has more speakers, Dutch or English?
English. The Taalunie's figures give 378 million native speakers of English and about 24 million speakers of Dutch.
Do I need Dutch for Dutch citizenship?
The diploma of the Staatsexamen Nt2 can be used for naturalisation and to meet the language requirements of the civic integration exam. The IND and DUO publish the full conditions.
Which English words come from Dutch?
The BBC's guide lists coleslaw, cookie and Santa Claus, and, through Afrikaans, apartheid, wildebeest and aardvark.
Sources: US Department of State, National Foreign Affairs Training Center, Foreign Language Training; BBC Languages, A Guide to Dutch: 10 facts and Key phrases (archived pages); Taalunie, Feiten & cijfers, and CNaVT; College voor Toetsen en Examens, Staatsexamens Nt2: English page and Naturalisatie; Cambridge English, Guided learning hours and exams overview; ETS, TOEFL iBT; IELTS; Pearson, PTE Academic. Checked on 13 October 2026. Photo: Erasmus Bridge and the Rotterdam skyline at dusk, Kristoffer Trolle / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
