Changes to Dutch integration exam to be implemented from July 1
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By Simone Jacobs
Changes will be made to the Dutch integration exam (inburgeringsexam) on knowledge of Dutch society from July 1, 2025. The new version of the test will focus more on practical matters of life in the Netherlands than socially desirable behaviour.
Criticism for Dutch integration exam
Divided into several parts, the Dutch integration exam includes exams on language proficiency and knowledge about life in the Netherlands. During the knowledge of Dutch society (KNM) exam, the applicant is shown videos of various everyday scenarios and has to answer questions on them.
The test, which was originally compiled in 2013, has received criticism for being derogatory and stereotypical towards immigrants. Even Dutch people found it difficult to answer a number of questions, because according to integration professor Han Entzinger, they were about “rules of conduct, social norms and views that not everyone in the Netherlands shares”. For example, there would be questions on what to do when it’s your neighbour’s birthday or if you have a dispute with a neighbour.
Knowledge of Dutch society section of integration exam gets overhauled
From July 1, the KNM exam will cover different topics, reports the Education Executive Agency (DUO). The questions will be more factual, covering themes such as geography, history, applying for social security benefits and registering a divorce.
"We wanted to put more emphasis on transferring knowledge instead of rules of conduct," Entzinger told De Telegraaf. The hope is that the new content will increase the self-reliance of newcomers.
To pass the test, applicants must answer 28 out of 40 questions correctly (70 percent). Participants have to sign a confidentiality agreement before starting the exam to prevent the questions from being leaked to the public. There are official practice exams on the DUO website.
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more