Inburgering · Updated 2026-10-19

KNM exam themes explained: what to study for each of the 8 topics

The Knowledge of Dutch Society exam (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, KNM) is built around 8 official themes. Since 1 July 2025 the names are the same, but questions lean more on what you know and less on "what would you do?". Below: each theme in plain English, concrete study points, and one exam-style tip. Pair it with DUO's practice exams and our vocab list.

Unofficial study guide by Lotus & Tulip. We are not affiliated with DUO, Cito or the Dutch government. Theme names and content summaries follow the official regulation (Staatscourant 2024, 15802). Always check inburgeren.nl for the latest rules. Lees deze pagina in het Nederlands.

Jump to a theme: Work and income · Manners, values and norms · Housing · Health and healthcare · History and geography · Public authorities · Government and the rule of law · Education and parenting

How the 8 themes fit the exam

You take KNM on a computer. The exam is split into themes, lasts 45 minutes, and the questions are written at about CEFR A2 Dutch.^[1] The 8 themes come from the revised exam objectives (eindtermen) that took effect on 1 July 2025.^[2] Cito, which wrote the new exams, says questions now test knowledge more directly and often use photos instead of introduction videos.^[3]

That change matters for how you study. Older materials often drilled "best thing to say or do" scenarios. New practice should check whether you know which organisation, which rule, or which fact applies. Our longer overview of the switch is here: KNM exam 2025 changes explained.

Four everyday situations sit behind the themes: work, home life, contact with organisations, and acting as a citizen.^[2] You do not need to memorise that structure, but it explains why work, housing, healthcare and voting share one short exam.

1. Werk en inkomen (Work and income)

This theme is about finding work, keeping it, and knowing what happens if you lose income. Expect questions on job search, contracts, UWV versus the municipality, and rights at work.

• Know the main ways people find jobs in the Netherlands: your network, online vacancy sites, and uitzendbureaus (temp agencies).^[2]
• Know that a CV, application letter or online form, and a prepared interview, are normal parts of applying.
• Know the difference between a permanent contract, a temporary contract and work via an uitzendbureau, and that part-time work is common.
• Know that UWV handles unemployment (WW) and disability benefits after a work history; without a work history you usually go to the municipality for bijstand.^[2]
• Know that benefit recipients have rights and duties, including accepting suitable work when required, and that income changes affect benefits.
• Know that discrimination at work is forbidden, and that a vertrouwenspersoon, trade union or equality organisation can help.

Exam tip: when a question names a situation (lost job, sick for a long time, no work history), ask "UWV or gemeente?" before you look at the answer options.

2. Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen (Manners, values and norms)

This theme covers everyday manners, how people organise social life, and a few official holidays. The 2025 rewrite stresses knowledge of common customs rather than telling you how you must feel.

• Know that manners can differ by group, region, generation and class, and that you can learn the local habits of the contexts you join.^[2]
• Know that many people in the Netherlands speak fairly directly, and that making appointments in advance (work, services, healthcare) is normal.
• Know that being on time, and cancelling in time, is widely valued.
• Know that marriage, registered partnership and unmarried cohabitation all exist, including for same-sex partners.^[2]
• Know the main national holidays and remembrance days: Pasen, Koningsdag, 4 and 5 May, Christmas, New Year; and that days such as Sinterklaas, Carnaval, Suikerfeest or Keti Koti matter in some communities.^[2]

Exam tip: holiday questions often test recognition (what is 4 May?) rather than personal belief. Learn names and dates first.

3. Wonen (Housing)

Housing covers finding a place to live, utilities, and keeping the neighbourhood clean. Social housing waitlists and tenant rights come up often in practice material.

Practise this theme: take our free KNM Wonen quiz, 10 Dutch questions with English translation on deposits, repairs, energy and waste.

• Know the three main routes: sociale huur (social rent), vrije huursector (private rent) and koop (buying).^[2]
• Know that a huurcontract sets rights and duties, and that tenants have legal protection against unfair treatment, unjustified rent rises or neglected maintenance.
• Know that you arrange energy, water and internet yourself, can compare suppliers, and should report meter readings and faults when asked.
• Know that energy and water costs vary, and that saving energy lowers both the bill and environmental impact.
• Know local rules for afvalscheiding (separating waste) and why separation is required.

Exam tip: if the photo shows bins or coloured bags, the answer is usually about separating waste correctly for your gemeente, not about recycling theory in general.

4. Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (Health and healthcare)

This theme is the Dutch care pathway: huisarts first, referral when needed, mandatory insurance, and what to do in an emergency.

• Know that the huisarts (GP) is the first contact for most health questions, including many mental-health concerns, and that conversations fall under medical secrecy.^[2]
• Know how to choose a GP, make an appointment, and that you may ask for an interpreter.
• Know that prescription medicines come from the apotheek; some over-the-counter items come from a drogist.
• Know that evenings and weekends use the huisartsenpost for urgent but non-life-threatening problems, and that 112 is for life-threatening emergencies.^[2][4]
• Know that basic health insurance is mandatory; you can change insurer yearly; GP visits do not use the eigen risico; adults usually need extra cover for dentistry and physiotherapy.^[2][5]
• Know what eigen risico and eigen bijdrage mean, and that DigiD is often needed for care admin and applications.

Exam tip: match the urgency: mild symptom → huisarts; evening urgent but not deadly → huisartsenpost; choking / heart attack / severe bleeding → 112.

5. Geschiedenis en geografie (History and geography)

A short set of facts about Dutch history, water management, WWII and the map of the country. The 2025 update gave extra attention to the Holocaust and related bans on antisemitism.^[6]

• Know that the seventeenth-century Republic grew through shipping and trade, visible in painting and architecture.^[2]
• Know that the Netherlands founded colonies, enslaved people and used forced labour on plantations, and that this past still shapes society.
• Know the long fight with water: polders, mills, dikes and the Deltawerken.
• Know the flag and that the Wilhelmus is the national anthem.
• Know that Germany occupied the Netherlands in WWII, what the Holocaust was, that many Dutch Jews were murdered, and that antisemitism is forbidden by law.^[2][6]
• Know 4 May (Remembrance) and 5 May (Liberation), post-war immigration, and membership of the EU, NATO and the UN.
• Know that Amsterdam is the capital and that the government sits in The Hague; learn the provinces and main cities in your region.^[2]

Exam tip: capital vs government seat is a classic trap: Amsterdam / Den Haag. Drill it until automatic.

6. Instanties (Public authorities)

"Instanties" means the organisations you deal with for papers, money, safety and legal help. Many questions are really "who do you contact?".

• Know that most government contact is digital, using DigiD and your BSN safely.^[2]
• Know that you must report household changes (birth, move, marriage, death) to the municipality for the BRP.
• Know where passports, residence permits and driving licences are handled, and that IND is central for immigration status.
• Know Belastingdienst roles: income tax return, and toeslagen such as care, rent and childcare allowance; report income changes quickly.
• Know that kinderbijslag is arranged via the SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank).^[2]
• Know police tasks (protect, supervise, enforce), when to report a crime, and the ID-showing rules from age 14 (12 in public transport).
• Know Juridisch Loket and maatschappelijk werk for free or low-cost help, and the Nationale ombudsman after you first complain to the organisation itself.
• Know which insurances are compulsory (zorgverzekering; WA for motor vehicles; opstal for homeowners) and that ordinary liability cover (AVP) is strongly recommended though not always mandatory.^[2]

Exam tip: build one flashcard per organisation (Belastingdienst, SVB, IND, UWV, gemeente, politie, Juridisch Loket) with two tasks each.

7. Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat (Government and the rule of law)

How the Dutch democratic state is organised, and a handful of constitutional rights. New explicit points in 2025 include women's right to self-determination and that state law comes before religious or traditional rules.^[2][6]

• Know that the Netherlands is a kingdom with a largely ceremonial monarch, a parliament of two chambers, multiple parties, ministers and a prime minister.^[2]
• Know the three layers of government: national, province and municipality.
• Know the separation of powers: making laws, carrying them out, and judging, done by different bodies.
• Know active and passive voting rights, the main elections (Tweede Kamer, municipalities, provinces, European Parliament, water boards), and that non-Dutch residents after five years may vote in municipal elections.^[2]
• Know Article 1 equal treatment and the ban on discrimination; freedom of speech within the law; freedom of religion with state law above religious rules.^[2]
• Know that women have zelfbeschikkingsrecht (self-determination) in the Netherlands: an explicit 2025 objective.^[2][6]

Exam tip: rights questions often pair a freedom with its limit (you may speak freely, but not when the law forbids the expression). Look for both halves.

8. Onderwijs en opvoeding (Education and parenting)

School structure, compulsory education, parental duties, and money for study. If you have children in the Netherlands, this theme is highly practical as well as examinable.

• Know the outline from early years to 18+: preschool offer, primary, secondary tracks, and options for special educational needs.^[2]
• Know freedom of education: public schools and bijzondere schools (based on belief or pedagogy) both exist.
• Know leerplicht (compulsory schooling) from age 5 to 16, and kwalificatieplicht until 18 or until a basic qualification.^[2][7]
• Know that parents are legally responsible for their minor children's behaviour (civil liability generally until 16), and that schools expect parent-teacher contact.
• Know where to find help with parenting problems (gemeente, jeugdzorg, GP, school) and that child protection can intervene in serious cases.
• Know that school costs exist (fees, voluntary parental contribution, materials) and that DUO handles studiefinanciering and related student finance.^[2]

Exam tip: leerplicht vs kwalificatieplicht is another classic pair: ages and the "basic qualification" idea. One wrong age option will usually be in the list.

How themes relate to the 2025 exam change

The eight theme names did not change. What changed is the objectives inside them: more testable knowledge, less behavioural coaching, photos instead of long video intros, and extra attention to the Holocaust, women's self-determination, state law above religious rules, and digital contact with organisations.^[2][3][6] If your study book is from before mid-2025, keep the theme map but replace old "what should you do?" drills with the new official practice exams.

How to practise with DUO and Netinnederland

1. Start with DUO's new official KNM practice exams on the inburgeren.nl practising page. DUO recommends a desktop; on a phone or tablet, turn it sideways.^[8]
2. After each exam, list every wrong answer under its theme. Those two or three weak themes become your next study block.
3. Watch the matching subject videos on Netinnederland.nl, which DUO recommends for exam subjects.^[8] Watch once for meaning, then again with Dutch subtitles and pause for new words.
4. Learn the high-frequency words per theme with our KNM vocabulary list (114 words).
5. Follow the week-by-week booking and study rhythm in our 4-week KNM study plan.
6. Add short bilingual drills with our 12 free practice questions with answers, or test all 8 themes at once with our free online KNM quiz (instant score and explanations).

Lotus & Tulip makes unofficial practice material. We are not affiliated with DUO, Cito or the Dutch government. Facts such as benefit names and procedures can change, always verify on the official sites below.

Sources

1. DUO / inburgeren.nl: Kennisexamens (format, 45 minutes, themes)
2. Staatscourant 2024, 15802: revised KNM objectives, in force 1 July 2025 (8 themes and indicators)
3. Cito: KNM-examen in een nieuw jasje (5 Aug 2025)
4. Government.nl: Emergency number 112
5. Government.nl: Standard health insurance
6. Rijksoverheid: Inburgeringsexamen vernieuwd (30 June 2025)
7. Rijksoverheid: Leerplicht
8. DUO / inburgeren.nl: Practicing for the exam (practice exams; Netinnederland recommendation)
9. DUO news archive, 3 April 2025 item on the 1 July change: EN / NL

Checked against the sources above on 14 October 2026. General study guidance, not legal advice. Related reading: KNM exam 2025 changes · KNM exam cost & booking · DUO practice exam walkthrough · 4-week study plan · vocabulary list · practice questions · free KNM quiz.