The inburgering exam at B1: the B1 route under the 2021 law
Last checked: 29 October 2026
The inburgering exam at B1 is the usual route under the Wet inburgering 2021. Within 3 years you pass the four language exams at B1 (the Nt2 state exam, Programme I) and the KNM exam, and you complete MAP and the participation statement (PVT). Your municipality sets this route in your personal plan, the PIP.
| B1 route | What it means |
|---|---|
| Law | Wet inburgering 2021 (duty to integrate from 1 January 2022) |
| Who decides | Your municipality, in your PIP |
| Language exams | Nt2 state exam, Programme I: Reading, Listening, Writing, Speaking |
| Knowledge exams | KNM, plus MAP and the PVT |
| Deadline | 3 years (the integration period) |
| Exam fees | €50 per Nt2 part (€200 for four), KNM €50, MAP and PVT free |
| Too hard? | After at least 600 hours of lessons, ask your municipality about A2 |
Sources: inburgeren.nl: integration in the Netherlands, inburgeren.nl: knowledge exams, inburgeren.nl: costs, DUO: Nt2 fees.
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. This page is about the route. For the exam itself, part by part, read the Dutch B1 exam.
How you end up on the B1 route
You do not choose it yourself. The steps under the 2021 law are (inburgeren.nl):
- Letter from DUO. It comes once you have a BSN, a residence permit and a registration with your municipality. That can take up to 8 weeks.
- Broad intake. The municipality invites you for an interview and a learnability test (leerbaarheidstoets).
- The PIP. The municipality writes your personal integration and participation plan. It names your learning route and your exams.
- Start date. DUO sends a second letter with the date your integration starts. Your 3 years count from there.
There are three routes. The B1 route prepares you for paid or voluntary work. The education route (O route) is for young people heading to MBO, HBO or university and is also at B1. The Z route is for people for whom B1 is not realistic and is at A1. If you are not sure which one you are on, Mijn Inburgering and your PIP say it. Our page on A2 or B1 compares the levels.
The exams on the B1 route
The four Nt2 language exams
At B1, the language exams are not DUO's A2 integration exams. They are the Staatsexamen Nt2, Programme I. Everything is on a computer: Reading takes 110 minutes, Listening 90, Writing 100, and Speaking 25 to 30 (staatsexamensnt2.nl). You register for them in Mijn DUO, not in Mijn Inburgering.
You can take the parts on different days and in any order. If you fail one, you retake only that part. The B1 exam guide covers each part, and how to pass the B1 Dutch exam has a study plan.
KNM
KNM is the same exam on every route: 40 questions in 45 minutes on a computer, with questions written in simple Dutch. You book it in Mijn Inburgering. See what the KNM exam is.
MAP and the PVT
MAP (Module Arbeidsmarkt en Participatie) is about work in the Netherlands. You do it through your municipality, with assignments such as volunteering or an internship, and you finish it before your integration period ends (inburgeren.nl). The PVT is a short course about Dutch values that ends with signing a statement. Both are free under the 2021 law.
Who pays for the B1 route
It depends on why you came to the Netherlands (inburgeren.nl):
- Asylum status holders. The municipality pays your course and 2 attempts at each exam. You cannot borrow from DUO, and you do not need to. Take care: the free attempts do not apply if you take an exam at a lower level than your PIP says.
- Everyone else (for example family migrants). You pay yourself or borrow from DUO. How much you can borrow depends on your income.
For the Nt2 parts, Mijn DUO shows straight away whether an exam is free for you or can be paid from your loan. If not, you pay by iDEAL or invoice (inburgeren.nl). The full breakdown is in what the B1 exam costs.
The 3-year deadline
Under the 2021 law you have 3 years from the start date in DUO's letter. Mijn Inburgering shows the exact date. If you do not finish in time and you cannot get an extension, DUO can fine you up to €1,000. Missing MAP or the PVT has its own €340 fine (inburgeren.nl). Asylum status holders never pay a fine.
Plan backwards. Nt2 exam places fill up, results take about 5 weeks, and a failed part means another booking. Most people need the first year and a half for lessons and the rest for exams and retakes.
If B1 is too hard
The B1 route is demanding, and the rules know that. If you followed at least 600 hours of language lessons and still cannot pass at B1, talk to your municipality about scaling down to A2 (inburgeren.nl).
Do not switch on your own. If you book A2 exams while your PIP still says B1, you lose the free attempts that asylum status holders get. Ask the municipality first and wait until your plan is changed.
What you get at the end
When you have passed everything on your route, your integration diploma appears in "Mijn diploma's". Under the 2021 law it shows the level you passed, such as B1 (inburgeren.nl). The Nt2 diploma you earn on the way also stands on its own. It counts for jobs, MBO and for naturalisation, where the level asked today is A2 (IND).
Getting ready
B1 is mostly about longer sentences. You need to explain, give reasons and tell what happened, so word order and the past tense matter far more than at A2. Our free word order cheat sheet and past tense cheat sheet cover the two big ones. Check what B1 really asks in what is B1 level Dutch.
Do not leave KNM until the end. It is short and you can pass it early. Try a free 15-question KNM drill to see where you stand, and get one KNM question a week by email.
For all exams across both laws, see the inburgering exam guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inburgering exam B1 the same as the Nt2 state exam?
The language part is. On the B1 route your four language exams are the Staatsexamen Nt2, Programme I. You also take KNM, MAP and the PVT.
Can I choose the B1 route myself?
No. Under the 2021 law your municipality sets the route in your PIP after the broad intake.
How long do I have to pass B1?
3 years from the start date in DUO's letter. Mijn Inburgering shows your end date.
What if I keep failing B1?
After at least 600 hours of language lessons, you can ask your municipality to scale you down to A2. Do this before you book any A2 exam.
Do I have to do MAP on the B1 route?
Yes, if your PIP says so. MAP is part of the B1 route and the Z route, and you finish it with your municipality.
Is B1 needed for Dutch citizenship?
No. Naturalisation asks for A2 today. An Nt2 diploma at B1 or B2 also counts.