Dutch Language Test

A Dutch language test can help you hire the right employees, based on their proficiency in Dutch.

  • What is a Dutch language test?

    The Dutch language test assesses candidates on their level of proficiency in reading, understanding, writing, and speaking Dutch in a workplace setting.

    In an increasingly global world, businesses that want to operate internationally need to have employees that can communicate with potential customers, clients, and suppliers - and this means finding the right employee with the right level of knowledge.

    The Dutch language test assesses candidates on their knowledge of:

    • Grammar and vocabulary
    • Sentence composition
    • Reading comprehension

    The Dutch language test is simple to administer, even to a large number of applicants, and the results provide quantifiable data that can be used to select the top-performing candidates to take further into the recruitment process.

Jump to a section on this page:

  1. What is a Dutch language test?
  2. Why is a Dutch language test so important when hiring?
  3. How to assess Dutch language skills using our test
  4. Dutch Language Test FAQs

Identify the best candidates and hire faster

Our pre-employment tests let you drill down to the best candidates at the click of a button.

  • Find those candidates who will excel in the role.

    Select the assessments that match the skills or behaviours for the position. You can test for software or coding competency, soft skills like teamwork, or personality traits, to be sure those who pass have high potential.

  • Reduce costs and time.

    No more laborious sifting of resumes or cover letters. Pick your ideal assessment mix, invite your applicants to take them, see the results in your dashboard. Get to the interview stage fast.

  • Eliminate bias.

    All your candidates take the assessments on a level playing field. Only their results determine whether they get shortlisted.

  • Why is a Dutch language test so important when hiring?

    Using a Dutch language test when you are hiring an employee that needs to be proficient in speaking, understanding and writing Dutch takes the guesswork out of deciding which candidates have the required level of proficiency.

    In more 'traditional' application processes, recruitment teams have to rely on the self-reporting ability of a candidate to tell them how proficient they are in a language. This is not reliable; even if an applicant declares that they have good working knowledge or are proficient in their resume or cover letter, it might not meet the standards needed for the role.

    Unless you already have a native Dutch speaker on the recruitment team who can take an interview, finding out how strong a candidate's language skills are during other stages of the recruitment process is not easy either.

    Testing gives the recruitment team results that show whether a candidate is a basic language user, an independent user, or proficient (as based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Language).

    Using a Dutch language test means putting candidates through the same questions and challenges, with results that can be used to demonstrate the specific level of proficiency of each candidate. This data can be used to choose the candidates with the best language knowledge who will have the greatest potential for success.

    Dutch language tests can be used when recruiting for roles like:

    • Customer service representative
    • International account manager
    • Dutch-speaking sales assistant
    • Translator

    Using the Dutch language test to assess the proficiency of candidates in language skills will make sure that they have the required level of literacy to be able to understand and participate in business-related conversations, and remove language barriers from international trading and operations in Dutch-speaking countries.

More Language Proficiency Tests

Sample Dutch Language Test question

Ik ___ een beetje Nederlands.

  • versta

  • verstaan

  • verstaat

  • verstonden

How to assess Dutch language skills using our test

Our Dutch language test asks a variety of questions that vary in difficulty. Candidates who are proficient in Dutch should be able to answer most of the questions correctly.

The Dutch language test provides valuable insight into what a candidate knows and understands. The test is structured using multiple-choice questions: a familiar format for most test-takers, that allows for instant and objective scoring.

As well as the correct answer, there are typically 2–4 distractors, representing common misconceptions and mistakes. This helps make the test more challenging, so a candidate's ability can be measured more accurately.

Test scores are provided in the platform and can be compared to other test-takers in your talent pool, to see how they perform relative to each other.

Each test has been thoroughly reviewed to ensure accuracy and validity in line with industry standards. It has been written, examined and edited by Dutch language experts and psychometric professionals. It has also been reviewed by a diverse sample of job seekers to check for any issues including sensitivity, face validity, fairness and accessibility.

This test is continually monitored so our team can optimize performance and regularly assess fairness issues.

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Predictor of job success

Picked provides evidence-based recommendations for tests to use for over 750 jobs. Our recommendation engine leverages data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

  • Assessments

    A full suite of assessments

    Our platform comes with 12 tests across both foundation and advanced levels so they’re suitable for everyone. Including aptitude, behavioural and personality tests, you’ll have a full range of tests to help you find the candidates you’re seeking.

  • Analytics

    An array of candidate metrics

    For each of your candidates, you’ll be given a comprehensive report. Included will be all the metrics you need to build a detailed picture of each candidate and ensure you’re making the right hiring decisions.

“The platform is so simple to use. I had used competitor providers for over six years and will never go back. Fast, efficient and friendly!”
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd
Greg Chambers, HR Business Partner, Littlefish Ltd

Dutch Language Test FAQs

Why should you recruit Dutch speaking employees?

There are about 23 million native Dutch speakers, and Dutch is the official language in the Netherlands, Belgium, St. Maarten, Aruba, and Curacao. If you need to do business in any of these countries a Dutch speaking employee could be beneficial.

How do you test an applicant's Dutch language competency?

The most efficient way to test an applicant on their Dutch language competency is to set them an assessment that looks at their reading and listening comprehension as well as sentence construction, grammar, and vocabulary.

Why is knowledge of speaking Dutch important?

If your business is operating in an area or a country where there are a lot of Dutch-speaking people, employees need to have good Dutch language skills to communicate well across borders.

Who should take a language test in Dutch?

Any employee who needs to communicate in any way with customers, clients, or suppliers in Dutch speaking countries should be assessed to find out what their level of competency is in using the language.

“An unbeatable service, impressive platform and fantastic value for money.”
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA
Laurence Fishman, Partner, NLPCA

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