Inburgering · Updated 2026-10-19

KNM vocabulary: 114 Dutch words for the exam, by theme

KNM vocabulary list: KNM Practice Pack pages with bilingual Dutch and English questions on work, income and healthcare, for the Dutch inburgering exam — Pages from the KNM Practice Pack: 160 bilingual questions across the 8 themes. See it on Etsy · Buy on Payhip.

Test yourself: take our free KNM practice quiz, 20 Dutch + English questions across all 8 themes with instant scoring and explanations. Ready for a full run? Try the free KNM mock exam: 40 questions, 45-minute timer.

For many learners, the hardest part of the Knowledge of Dutch Society exam (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, KNM) isn't the facts. It's the words. A question about huurtoeslag or de huisartsenpost is easy if you know what those words mean, and impossible if you don't. This list collects 114 words and phrases that come up again and again in KNM practice material, grouped under the 8 official exam themes, with an English translation and one line on what you need to know.

Lotus & Tulip is an independent studio, not affiliated with DUO. This is our own study list, not an official DUO word list. Rules and amounts change, so check the official sources linked at the bottom.

How the exam uses these words

The KNM exam is taken on a computer, split into themes, and lasts 45 minutes.^[1] Since 1 July 2025 it follows new exam objectives with more knowledge questions; the 8 themes come from the official regulation.^[2] Questions are in fairly simple Dutch, but they lean heavily on the names of organisations, benefits and documents. That's why a targeted vocabulary list pays off more than general Dutch study.

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

Close-up of a bilingual KNM practice question showing exam words in Dutch with an English translation underneath — Exam words in context: Dutch question, English line underneath.

First: the question words

Before the themes, learn how the questions are asked. KNM practice questions usually use the formal u (you) and a handful of fixed patterns:

Dutch	English
Wat doet u?	What do you do?
Waar gaat u naartoe?	Where do you go?
Bij wie moet u zijn?	Who do you need to go to?
Wie betaalt …?	Who pays …?
Mag dat?	Is that allowed?
Wat is waar?	What is true?
Wat is gebruikelijk?	What is usual?
Wanneer …?	When …?
Hoeveel …?	How much / how many …?
verplicht	compulsory
verboden	forbidden
meestal	usually

Watch out for niet (not) and geen (no/none) in a question. "Wat mag niet?" asks for the one thing that is not allowed, and it's an easy point to throw away when you read too fast.

KNM vocabulary by theme: the 8 KNM practice sections from Werk en inkomen to Onderwijs en opvoeding — The vocabulary below follows the same 8 themes.

1. Werk en inkomen (Work and income)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de werkgever / de werknemer	employer / employee	The werkgever pays you; you are the werknemer.
solliciteren	to apply for a job	A sollicitatiebrief is a cover letter; a sollicitatiegesprek is a job interview.
het arbeidscontract	employment contract	Can be for a fixed period (tijdelijk) or open-ended (vast).
de proeftijd	probation period	During it, both sides can end the contract quickly. You are still paid.
de cao	collective labour agreement	Agreements on pay and conditions for a whole sector or company, made by unions and employers.
de vakbond	trade union	An organisation that stands up for employees and negotiates the cao.
het brutoloon / het nettoloon	gross pay / net pay	Net is what's left after tax and premiums are taken off.
de loonstrook	payslip	Shows gross pay, deductions and net pay.
het minimumloon	minimum wage	Set by law. Paying less is not allowed, even if the employee agrees.
het vakantiegeld	holiday allowance	At least 8% of gross pay, usually paid in May or June.
zich ziek melden	to call in sick	You report sick to your employer, following the company's rules.
de uitkering	benefit payment	General word for money you receive from a benefits agency.
de WW	unemployment benefit	For people who lose their job and have worked enough weeks. Applied for at UWV.
de bijstand	social assistance	The last safety net if you have no job, benefit or money. Arranged by the gemeente.
de AOW	state pension	Paid by the SVB from the state pension age.
de toeslag	allowance	Income-related support, e.g. zorgtoeslag (healthcare) or huurtoeslag (rent).
de belastingaangifte	tax return	Filed with the Belastingdienst, the Dutch tax authority.
de zzp'er	self-employed person / freelancer	Short for zelfstandige zonder personeel. Registers at the KVK.
de KVK	Chamber of Commerce	Where every business, including freelancers, is registered.

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

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de afspraak	appointment	Being on time matters. If you're late or can't come, you let people know.
op tijd	on time	You'll see this phrase in many questions about appointments.
gefeliciteerd	congratulations	Said on birthdays, also to the family of the person whose birthday it is.
beterschap	get well soon	Said to someone who is ill.
gecondoleerd	my condolences	Said to someone who has lost a loved one.
de buren	the neighbours	Many questions are about noise, greeting new neighbours or solving a problem by talking first.
gelijkwaardigheid	equality (of worth)	Everyone is of equal value, regardless of gender, origin, religion or sexuality.
de zelfbeschikking	self-determination	You decide about your own life and body: partner, marriage, divorce, work. Extra exam attention since July 2025.
de vrijheid van meningsuiting	freedom of expression	You may say what you think, but not call for violence, hatred or discrimination.
de vrijheid van godsdienst	freedom of religion	You may choose your religion, change it, or have none.
de discriminatie	discrimination	Treating people unequally because of who they are. It's forbidden.
het huwelijk	marriage	Two people of the same sex have been able to marry in the Netherlands since 2001.
gedwongen huwelijk	forced marriage	A crime. Nobody may be forced to marry.
het vrijwilligerswerk	volunteer work	Unpaid work for a club, school or charity. Very common in the Netherlands.

3. Wonen (Housing)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de huurwoning / de koopwoning	rented home / owner-occupied home	You either rent or buy.
de huurder / de verhuurder	tenant / landlord	Also called de huisbaas (landlord, informal).
de woningcorporatie	housing association	Rents out social housing (sociale huurwoningen).
het huurcontract	rental contract	Sets out the rent, the period and the house rules.
de borg	deposit	Money you pay at the start and get back when you leave, minus any damage.
de huurtoeslag	rent allowance	Income-related help with the rent, via Dienst Toeslagen.
de Huurcommissie	Rent Tribunal	An independent body that helps settle disputes about rent and maintenance.
de hypotheek	mortgage	A loan to buy a house.
zich inschrijven bij de gemeente	to register with the municipality	Needed when you come to live in the Netherlands or move house.
de gemeentelijke belastingen	municipal taxes	For example for waste collection and sewerage.
het afval scheiden	to separate waste	Glass, paper, plastic and GFT (vegetable, fruit and garden waste) often go in separate bins.
de energierekening	energy bill	Gas, electricity and sometimes heating. Usually paid monthly in advance.
de inboedelverzekering	contents insurance	Covers your belongings, e.g. after a fire or burglary.
de aansprakelijkheidsverzekering	personal liability insurance	Pays if you accidentally damage someone else's property. Not compulsory, but very common. (For a car, WA insurance is compulsory.)

4. Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (Health and healthcare)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de huisarts	GP (family doctor)	Your first stop for most health problems. You register with one near your home.
de verwijzing	referral	You usually need one from your huisarts to see a specialist in hospital.
de huisartsenpost	out-of-hours GP service	For urgent problems in the evening, at night and at weekends.
de spoedeisende hulp (SEH)	emergency department (A&E / ER)	For serious emergencies. In a life-threatening situation, call 112.
de apotheek	pharmacy	Where you collect prescription medicine (medicijnen op recept).
de zorgverzekering	health insurance	Everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands must have the basic package.
de basisverzekering	basic health insurance	The same cover at every insurer, set by the government.
de aanvullende verzekering	supplementary insurance	Optional extra cover, e.g. physiotherapy or dental care.
het eigen risico	annual deductible	The part of some healthcare costs you pay yourself each year before insurance pays.
de zorgtoeslag	healthcare allowance	Income-related help with the health insurance premium.
de tandarts	dentist	For adults, most dental care is not in the basic package.
het consultatiebureau	child health clinic	Checks babies' and young children's growth and health, and gives vaccinations.
de GGD	municipal public health service	Vaccinations, infectious disease control and health advice.

5. Geschiedenis en geografie (History and geography)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de Tachtigjarige Oorlog	the Eighty Years' War	The revolt against Spanish rule (1568-1648) that led to the Dutch Republic.
de Gouden Eeuw	the Golden Age	The 17th century: trade, science and art (Rembrandt, Vermeer) flourished.
de VOC	Dutch East India Company	A powerful trading company founded in 1602.
de slavernij	slavery	Slavery was abolished in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean on 1 July 1863. Keti Koti (1 July) marks this.
de Tweede Wereldoorlog	the Second World War	Germany occupied the Netherlands from 1940 to 1945.
de bezetting	the occupation	The period of German rule during the war.
de Holocaust	the Holocaust	The murder of six million Jews by Nazi Germany, including most Dutch Jews. Extra exam attention since July 2025.
de Jodenvervolging	persecution of the Jews	Anne Frank's diary is the best-known Dutch story from this time.
Dodenherdenking / Bevrijdingsdag	Remembrance Day / Liberation Day	4 May: two minutes' silence for the war dead. 5 May: celebration of freedom.
Koningsdag	King's Day	27 April, the King's birthday.
de provincie	province	The Netherlands has 12 provinces.
de hoofdstad	capital	Amsterdam is the capital. The government and parliament sit in Den Haag (The Hague).
de Randstad	the Randstad	The urban area with Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag and Utrecht.
de dijk / de Deltawerken	dyke / the Delta Works	Much of the country is below sea level. The Delta Works were built after the 1953 flood.

6. Instanties (Public authorities)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de gemeente	municipality	Registration (BRP), passports and ID cards, bijstand, many local services.
het BSN	citizen service number	Your personal number for contact with government, tax, work and healthcare.
de DigiD	DigiD (digital ID)	Your login for government websites. Never share your login codes with anyone.
MijnOverheid	MyGovernment	A government portal where you can receive official messages in the Berichtenbox.
de IND	Immigration and Naturalisation Service	Residence permits and naturalisation.
DUO	DUO (Education Executive Agency)	Runs the civic integration exams and student finance.
het UWV	Employee Insurance Agency	WW and sickness benefits, and werk.nl for jobseekers.
de SVB	Social Insurance Bank	Pays the AOW and kinderbijslag (child benefit).
de Belastingdienst	Tax and Customs Administration	Taxes. Dienst Toeslagen, part of it, handles allowances.
het Juridisch Loket	Legal Services Counter	Free initial legal advice.
de Nationale ombudsman	National Ombudsman	Where you can complain if a government body has treated you unfairly, after first complaining to that body itself.
de politie / 112	police / emergency number	Call 112 for urgent help in life-threatening situations or if you witness a crime. Non-urgent police: 0900-8844.

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

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de rechtsstaat	the rule of law	Everyone, including the government, must follow the law.
de Grondwet	the Constitution	Contains the basic rights of everyone in the Netherlands.
artikel 1	Article 1	The first article of the Constitution: equal treatment and the ban on discrimination.
de democratie	democracy	Citizens choose their representatives in free elections.
de verkiezingen	elections	For example for the Tweede Kamer, the gemeenteraad and the Provinciale Staten.
het stemrecht / het kiesrecht	the right to vote	You can vote in municipal elections without Dutch nationality if you meet certain conditions.
de Tweede Kamer	House of Representatives	150 members, directly elected. Scrutinises the government and makes laws together with it.
de Eerste Kamer	Senate	75 members. Votes on laws after the Tweede Kamer.
de regering / het kabinet	government / cabinet	The King and the ministers form the government. The ministers and state secretaries form the cabinet.
de minister-president	prime minister	Leads the cabinet.
de Koning	the King	Head of state. The ministers are responsible for government policy, not the King.
de gemeenteraad	municipal council	Elected by the residents of the municipality.
de burgemeester	mayor	Appointed, not elected. Responsible for public order and safety.
de scheiding der machten	separation of powers	Making laws, carrying them out and judging are done by different bodies.
de rechter	judge	Independent. Decides disputes and criminal cases.
de advocaat	lawyer	Helps and represents you in legal matters.

8. Onderwijs en opvoeding (Education and parenting)

Dutch	English	What it means for the exam
de leerplicht	compulsory education	Children must go to school from the month after they turn 5 until the end of the school year in which they turn 16.
de kwalificatieplicht	qualification requirement	After that, young people must keep learning until 18 or until they have a basic qualification.
de basisschool	primary school	Most children start at 4. The last year is groep 8.
het schooladvies	school recommendation	The primary school's advice on which type of secondary school suits your child.
vmbo / havo / vwo	the three secondary school types	Pre-vocational, senior general and pre-university secondary education.
mbo / hbo / wo	vocational college / university of applied sciences / university	The three main levels of education after secondary school.
de leerplichtambtenaar	school attendance officer	Works for the gemeente and checks that children go to school.
de ouderavond	parents' evening	A meeting at school about your child's progress.
het rapport	school report	Shows your child's results.
de kinderopvang	childcare	Day care for young children. You may get kinderopvangtoeslag (childcare allowance).
de kinderbijslag	child benefit	A contribution towards the cost of raising children, paid by the SVB.
de opvoeding	upbringing / parenting	Hitting or otherwise using violence against children is not allowed.

Learn the words inside a question, not as a bare list.

How to learn this list in two weeks

One theme a day, two passes. Read a theme's table in the morning. In the evening, cover the English column and test yourself. Eight themes take eight days; use the remaining days for the words you keep missing.
Learn the article. Write de or het with every noun. It costs nothing extra and helps you recognise the word in a full sentence.
Learn who does what. Many questions are really "which organisation?". Make one card per organisation: UWV, SVB, IND, DUO, gemeente, Belastingdienst, and the two or three things each one handles.
Use spaced repetition. Paper flashcards or a free app like Anki both work. Review new words the next day, then after three days, then after a week.
Move to questions quickly. Words stick when you meet them inside real questions. Do DUO's official practice exams^[3] and note every word you didn't know.

Free practice to go with this list

DUO's official KNM practice exams, on the practising page of inburgeren.nl.^[3]
12 free KNM practice questions with answers in Dutch and English on this blog.
Our free online KNM practice quiz: 20 Dutch + English questions with instant scoring, so you can spot the words that still trip you up.
Our free 20-question KNM sampler (PDF).
The 8 KNM exam themes explained, with study points per topic.
The 4-week KNM study plan, with booking, costs and exam-day tips.

See every word in context. The KNM Practice Pack has 160 original multiple-choice questions across all 8 official themes, updated for the July 2025 objectives. Every question is in Dutch with an English support line underneath, so you learn the content and the vocabulary at the same time, and the answer key explains why each answer is right. It's a printable A4 PDF and an unofficial study aid, not a copy of any real exam. Prefer direct checkout? Buy on Payhip.

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-19. General study guidance, not legal advice. Related reading: KNM exam 2025 changes · KNM exam themes · KNM exam cost & booking · KNM practice questions · free KNM quiz · How to prepare for the KNM exam.