Dutch is closer to English than to German, although it lies between English and German. Morphologically it’s similar to English, but syntactically it’s closer to German. Unlike German, which uses capital letters more often, Dutch and English have reduced their use of capital letters
Want to improve your Dutch online? I’ve searched for various language learning apps that can help you learn this wonderful language. I found several apps, but I have carefully selected and thoroughly tested ten of them.
After evaluating each Dutch learning app based on course quality, variety of exercises, cost, usability, design and user reviews, I’m ready to highlight the top picks. Let’s find out together which app best suits your learning needs!
Why Learn Dutch?
Here are some reasons why it is worth learning Dutch:
Explore new horizons: Even if you already speak English, you’re missing out on many fascinating Dutch conversations. With just a little Dutch, you can discover a whole new world! People will appreciate your efforts and be happy to share their life experiences and language skills with you.
Learn more about the culture: Mastering the Dutch language gives you an insight into the country’s life, customs and culture. You’ll understand why the Dutch can seem rude when they speak English. In fact, they prefer a direct style of communication that can sometimes seem too blunt for foreigners.
Make friends: You’re not alone in a new society. In a language course you’ll meet people from all over the world who are eager to chat with you and make new friends. This is a great way to practise your language skills!
Get better job prospects: English alone often isn’t enough to get a job. Employers will definitely take your basic Dutch skills into account! Even basic vocabulary and simple sentences can help you find a job and improve your chances in the job market.
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Peculiarities of the Dutch language
Dutch belongs to the West Germanic group of languages. It is the native language of the majority of the population in the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where Dutch is spoken by about 23 million people as a native language and by another 5 million as a second language.
The language of the Netherlands is often mistakenly referred to as “Dutch”. In fact, Holland is only one of several provinces in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The confusion is compounded by the fact that the Dutch word “De Nederlanden” used to refer to the historic region at the mouth of the Rhine and other rivers. Today this region, a closely knit conglomerate of three countries, is known as Benelux.
Today, Dutch is spoken both in the Netherlands and in the northern part of Belgium called Flanders. Long separated from the Netherlands by historical events, Flanders has been part of this country since the foundation of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1835.
Although sometimes referred to as “Flemish”, Dutch is actually the same as the Dutch spoken in Flanders.
Special Features of the Dutch Language summarized:
- The Dutch language has several dialects, mainly Dutch and Flemish. Attempts have been made over the years to unify them, but without success.
- There are now only two genders in the language, with three genders only in written form. The gender function is performed by the definite article: “de” for the masculine and feminine, “het” for the neuter. The masculine and feminine genders merge into one, but are distinct from the neuter.
- Pronouns are often used to indicate gender, and the system of Dutch pronouns is very extensive.
- A noun includes categories such as gender, number, case, definiteness and indefiniteness. These are divided into proper nouns and nominatives, with the nominative being divided into concrete and abstract. Abstract is further divided into collective and real. Some nouns have not one but two plural forms, with no change in the meaning of the word.
- The order of subject and predicate in sentences is clearly defined. In terms of syntactic features and forms of word formation, Dutch is very similar to German. The grammatical relationships between words are mainly expressed by word order and function words, not through word forms.
- In modern Dutch, adjectives no longer have inflection.
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- Most verbs have a weak conjugation. However, there are 164 verbs with a strong conjugation.
- The Dutch vocabulary contains much more words of Germanic origin than English. This is mainly due to Dutch word formation structures, which tend to form long and sometimes very complex compound nouns.
- Dutch spelling uses the Latin alphabet and includes the digraph “ij” and diacritical marks, mainly used to distinguish homonyms, such as “een” (indefinite article) and “één” (“one”).
- A peculiarity of Dutch spelling is the frequent use of double letters, both in vowels and consonants. This is because complex words are formed and many vowel phonemes have to be distinguished in writing. An example of a word with five double letters in a row is “voorraaddoos” (pantry).
Is it Easy to Learn Dutch?
It seems quite simple for German speakers to learn Dutch, but there are some challenges and peculiarities that make the language challenging even for them, not to mention English speakers.
For Dutch people, it’s equally easy to learn both English and German. However, English speakers and especially Germans have difficulties due to the complex phonetic structure of Dutch. Many vowels and diphthongs appear almost indistinguishable to non-native speakers.
A German learner may be able to understand much of a written text, but it can be a challenge to hear it. Overall, Dutch spelling is not easy, especially when it comes to vowel sounds.
My strategies and recommendations for effective language learning:
Apps for Learning Dutch: My Rating
There are many apps for learning languages, but not all of them offer comprehensive Dutch courses. When I picked out effective apps for learning Dutch, I took various criteria into account, such as
- Learning material scope and structure
- Learning methods
- Cost and subscriptions
- Usability
- Content presentation
- User reviews
These aspects helped me to choose the best apps for learning Dutch and to rank them. But before I go into the details of each app and present the pros and cons based on my tests, I’d like to give you my personal ranking here.
Top Recommendations:
Babbel: A multi-purpose app for effective learning of various aspects of Dutch, from grammar to pronunciation.
Mondly: An essential tool for efficient vocabulary learning, with a wide range of topics such as family, countries & languages, food & drink, romance and much more.
Italki: With its interactive format, Italki offers a flexible and practical way to learn Dutch quickly and improve your reading, speaking and writing skills.
Recommendations:
Rosetta Stone: Uses an intuitive method of learning that combines visuals with listening, speaking and reading. However, it does not provide grammatical explanations or translations for Dutch vocabulary.
Memrise: The quality of the lessons varies, with some Dutch vocabulary not presented with audio pronunciations and verbs often presented only in their base form without conjugations.
FunEasyLearn: Allows you to learn a wide range of words, but offers no grammar or sentence structure exercises.
Glossika: Focuses on intensive practice and repetition to improve language skills, particularly by learning sentences. A potential drawback is that Glossika does not provide explicit grammar explanations or exercises.
LingGo: Allows users to learn new words in different contexts, which helps to improve language comprehension. However, LingGo Play does not focus on all aspects of the language. Therefore, it may be necessary to use additional resources to improve grammar or conversation skills.
Less Recommended:
Duolingo: The effectiveness and learning methods are controversial, although there is a free version
Drops: While it gives a lot of new words, it does not cover more advanced topics such as verb conjugations or cultural contexts.
TOP 10 Apps to Learn Dutch Tested and Compared by Me
In the next part, I want to share my own experiences with different language learning apps and tell you which ones I like the most. We’ll talk about the different courses, lessons, prices and the good and bad things about these apps. Let’s see what they have to offer and how they can help you learn Dutch.
#1. Babbel
PROs
- Brief, easy-to-understand lessons
- Emphasis on everyday conversations and useful vocabulary
- Comprehensive approach
CONs
- Less flexible pricing structure for some users
- Limited development of conversational skills
- No learning material for advanced language learners
Founded in 2007, Babbel has built a reputation for its straightforward approach to language learning. A key feature of Babbel is its short, digestible lessons that fit seamlessly into your daily schedule.
Babbel focuses on everyday conversations and practical vocabulary, so you can learn new language skills quickly and effectively for everyday use.
Another advantage of Babbel is its approach to language learning, which includes speaking, writing, reading and listening. The interactive exercises support the practical application and improvement of the learned skills.
Here are the current Babbel prices (as of March 2024):
- Three-month subscription: US$15.25 per month
- Six-month subscription: US$13.45 per month
- Twelve-month subscription: US$8.95 per month
- The lifetime subscription is available for a one-time payment of US$349.
I particularly like the fact that Babbel integrates authentic conversations from real life into the lessons. This gives you a realistic experience of the language and allows you to improve your speaking and listening skills.
#2. Mondly
PROs
- Chatbot for practicing speaking and listening skills
- Accurate speech recognition technology
- Practical examples and contexts
CONs
- Lack of advanced materials
- Advanced reading or listening exercises are not included
- Practice style remains the same across the course.
Mondly has become one of the top language learning apps in the world. More and more users are successfully complete their language courses. It has over 90 million users worldwide and offers learning plans for 41 different languages. This diversity makes it one of the most versatile options available.
What sets Mondly apart is the use of Virtual Reality (VR) in the learning process. This innovative approach is great for people who want a fun way to learn languages. Mondly combines gamified learning techniques with advanced language learning technologies to keep users motivated and engaged.
Mondly has a unique focus on learning whole sentences rather than individual words. The app also offers audio recordings from native speakers to improve pronunciation and allows you to practise real-life conversational situations with an advanced chatbot that simulates natural conversation. You can find out more about the app in our comparison article “Mondly vs Duolingo: Which One’s Better for Learning Languages?“.
Mondly’s subscription options are very flexible, including monthly subscriptions, 6-month subscriptions and annual licences for specific languages. Here are some of their current prices:
- US$9.99 per month
- US$47.99 for an annual subscription
- US$1999.99 for Lifetime Access (often discounted to US$99.99)
In addition, Mondly regularly offers special deals for those who want to invest a lot in a language learning or refresher course.
#3. Rosetta Stone
PROs
- Based on full immersion method
- Focuses on speaking, listening, reading and writing
- Structured curriculum with progressive lessons
CONs
- Access to all lessons requires a paid subscription
- Lacks grammar explanations and exercises
- Limited focus on real conversations
Rosetta Stone offers a unique method of learning Dutch that focuses on immersion. Originally launched as a PC software application, today it is available on a variety of platforms.
Rosetta Stone not only provides the opportunity to learn a large vocabulary, but also gives a high level of confidence, so users feel more comfortable when they communicate. For more information about the app, see my comparison articles “Babbel vs Rosetta Stone: Which Language App Stands Out?” and “Pimsleur vs Rosetta Stone: Which Language App Suits You Best?“
Rosetta Stone lessons are clearly structured and interactive, so users can immerse themselves in the Dutch language without feeling overwhelmed. The language is taught in context, accompanied by images and audio, making learning an authentic experience.
A free trial of Rosetta Stone gives users a trial of the immersive learning approach, but with a limited number of lessons. Users gain full access to all Rosetta Stone lessons and features only with a subscription to one of the premium plans.
These premium plans, which include monthly, annual and lifetime options, offer unlimited access to the platform’s extensive learning resources. Here are some of the current prices:
- 3 months at US$15.99 per month (billed as a once-off payment of US$47.97)
- 12 months at US$10.50 per month (billed as a once-off payment of US$126.00)
- Lifetime subscription of US$199.00 (that’s a discounted one-time payment; the normal cost is US$399.00)
There are also occasional special offers and discounts which may affect the cost.
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#4. Duolingo
PROs
- Audio components recorded by native speakers
- Variety of gamified exercises
- Interactive challenges focus on vocabulary building
CONs
- Lack depth, especially for advanced learners
- No detailed grammar explanations
- Not optimal for developing conversational skills
Duolingo is a language learning platform founded in 2011 by Luis von Ahn and Severin Hacker. Since then, Duolingo has become one of the most popular and widely used language learning apps in the world.
The platform offers a variety of languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and many more. For more information about this app, please read “What Languages Are Offered on Duolingo?” and “Spanish with Duolingo: Is it Effective for Spanish Language Learning?“
Duolingo’s lessons are structured and interactive, covering a variety of topics and grammar points. Users can learn through translations, picture matching, listening comprehension exercises and speaking tasks. A notable feature of Duolingo is its adaptive learning structure, which adapts to the user’s individual needs and progress
Duolingo offers a free version that provides full access to all lessons and exercises. However, there is also a paid premium version that offers additional features such as the removal of ads and access to offline learning materials.
The cost of the premium version of Duolingo varies depending on the length of the subscription and the user’s preferences. Prices for Duolingo Plus are as follows
- 1 month: US$6.99
- 1 year: US$47.99
- 1 year: US$71.99 (family plan)
#5. Memrise
PROs
- Variety of language resources and user-created tools.
- Playful approach
- Focuses on vocabulary and grammar development
CONs
- Lessons could be clearer and more coherent
- The quality of lessons needs improvement
- No focus on advanced grammar exercises
Memrise was founded in 2010 by Ed Cooke and Greg Detre. The platform offers courses in a variety of languages and uses a unique method that focuses on memorising words and phrases.
Memrise’s lessons are interactive and use a playful approach to make learning fun and motivating. Users are guided through a variety of exercises designed to increase vocabulary, improve grammar and enhance listening comprehension. These exercises can include multiple choice questions, fill-in-the-blank exercises, picture associations and more.
A notable feature of Memrise is the use of ‘Mem’ cards, which contain visual and auditory elements to support memory and make it easier to learn new words. Users can also create their own learning cards or access existing courses created by other users. More information about the app can be found in the “Memrise vs Duolingo Review: Which App Is Better?” page.
Memrise offers both a free version and a paid premium subscription. The free version provides access to a limited number of courses and exercises, while the premium subscription offers additional features such as offline learning, advanced statistics and unlimited access to all courses. The cost of the premium subscription varies depending on the length of the subscription and region, and there are often special offers and discounts for new customers.
#6. FunEasyLearn
PROs
- Structured learning with three levels
- Over 6000 Dutch words
- Adaptive learning system
CONs
- Limited variety of words, more focus on nouns than verbs
- No specific exercises for grammar or sentence structure
- Does not teach the Dutch alphabet
FunEasyLearn is a language learning app designed to help users learn a variety of languages in a fun and effective way. Developed by a team of language experts and developers, the app offers courses in over 34 languages.
The lessons in FunEasyLearn are structured in a playful way and offer a variety of exercises to promote the learning of Dutch. Users can navigate through interactive games, quizzes, vocabulary tests and picture associations to expand their vocabulary and improve their language skills. The app also uses visual elements such as pictures and illustrations to make learning easier and more engaging.
An amazing feature of FunEasyLearn is its adaptive learning system, which adapts to the user’s individual needs and learning style. This allows users to learn at their own pace and track their progress.
In addition, FunEasyLearn offers regular updates and new content to ensure that users always have new challenges and can continue to expand their knowledge.
FunEasyLearn offers a free version with limited features and a paid premium subscription. The cost of the premium subscription varies according to the duration of the subscription and region, and there are often special offers and discounts for new customers. The premium subscription gives users access to all courses and features of the app, including offline learning, personalised learning statistics and more.
#7. Drops
PROs
- Visual approach with illustrations and animations.
- Offline learning option
- Daily five-minute lessons fit busy schedule
CONs
- Lacks grammar and conversation exercises
- More suited for beginners
- High premium subscription cost
In the next part, I want to share my own experiences with different language learning apps and tell you which ones I like the most. We’ll talk about the different courses, lessons, prices and the good and bad things about these apps. Let’s see what they have to offer and how they can help you learn Dutch.
The Drops app offers a fun way to learn Dutch as it breaks lessons down into short and entertaining five-minute units. This structure is perfect for quick learning sessions, allowing users to learn the language in small, easily handled steps.
The app offers a variety of topics and categories, such as basic vocabulary, everyday situations, travel and more, to meet the needs of different users. There are also special courses for phrases and sentences to improve conversation skills.
Drops subscription costs US$12.19 per month or US$69.99 per year. There is also a lifetime membership option for US$159.99, which gives permanent access to all the app’s features. Drops offers a free trial with limited access to content and features to give users a taste of the app before they subscribe.
#8. Italki
PROs
- Adaptive lessons to suit the learner's needs and schedule
- Access to multiple teachers for personalised learning
- Real-life conversation practice with native speakers
CONs
- Quality of lessons and teaching experience varies
- Learners need to take initiative for personalized learning
- Time zone differences may pose scheduling challenges
italki is an e-learning platform that allows learners to get language lessons and support from professional teachers or native speakers. Lessons are flexible and tailored to learners’ needs and schedules.
Lessons on italki are adaptable and can include a variety of formats, such as individual lessons, group lessons, conversation practice, writing or listening exercises.
Teachers use a variety of teaching methods and materials to provide learners with an interactive and effective learning process. Lessons can be video calls, audio calls or text messages, depending on the preferences of the learner and the teacher
The cost of using italki varies according to the teacher and the type of lesson. Prices can be charged per hour or per lesson and usually range from US$10 to US$40 per hour. Some teachers also offer packages of several lessons at a discounted price.
In fact, italki offers a free option called “Language Exchange”, where learners can interact with native speakers of other languages and help each other learn Dutch.
#9. LinGo Play
PROs
- Intuitive user interface
- Diverse selection of lessons and topics
- Availability of speech recognition technology
CONs
- Limited opportunity for conversational practice
- Occasional technical issues or bugs
- Lack of advanced lessons for experienced learners
LinGo Play focuses on intuitive language learning with visual and audio content. Lessons are interactive and based on an advanced learning strategy that adapts to the user’s individual needs and learning style.
Lessons in LinGo Play are divided into different modules, each designed to cover different aspects of the language, this includes vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension and conversation. Users can choose from a variety of topics to suit their interests and learning goals. Lessons include a mix of interactive exercises, images, audio recordings and speaking practice to provide a complete learning experience.
The app also offers progress monitoring and personalised learning recommendations to help users achieve their goals effectively. In addition, LinGo Play features speech recognition technology that assesses users’ pronunciation and provides feedback for improvement.
In terms of cost, LinGo Play offers several subscription options.
- A weekly subscription costs US$7.99
- Monthly subscription costs US$29.99
- An annual subscription costs US$89.99
With a subscription, users have full access to all features and content of the app.
Discover more advice on language learning:
#10. Glossika
PROs
- Personalized plans and progress tracking
- Lessons cover various topics and levels to suit everyone
- Learning sentences helps speak more naturally
CONs
- May not be best for beginners needing basic grammar
- Less interactive compared to some apps
- Limited feedback means fewer immediate corrections
Glossika offers a teaching method based on intensive practice and repetition to support language learning. Its unique approach focuses on the learning of sentences and the improvement of fluency.
The lessons are structured in the form of audio files and accompanying texts. Users listen to sentences, repeat them out loud and repeat the process regularly to improve their pronunciation, grammar and comprehension skills. The sentences are designed to cover a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary. This ensures a full understanding of the target language.
Glossika’s lessons are divided into different levels of difficulty and topics to suit the user’s needs and learning level. The platform also offers personalised learning plans and progress tracking to optimise the learning process.
In terms of cost, Glossika offers different subscription options. Monthly subscriptions start at US$16.99. There are also options for six-monthly and annual subscriptions, which may come with discounts. A lifetime subscription is also available, with prices varying according to the offer.
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Conclusion: the Variety of Choices Offered by Language Learning Apps is Impressive.
Each app offers its own benefits and can be customised to meet individual learning needs. The right app for you depends on your personal preferences, goals and learning style.
My top picks for learning Dutch are:
- Babbel provides a solid foundation for learning Dutch with its varied exercises and structured curriculum.
- Mondly stands out for its interactive features that make learning fun.
- If you’re looking for personal attention and individual feedback, italki could be the right choice for you.
- FunEasyLearn is particularly suitable for those who prefer to learn vocabulary in a fun way
It’s a good idea to try different apps to find the one that suits you best. Remember that the key to successful Dutch learning is continuous practice and effort. Whichever app you choose, it’s important to study regularly and stay motivated.
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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