KNM exam questions: what they look like, with practice examples
Last checked: 29 October 2026
KNM exam questions are short, practical multiple-choice questions in Dutch about life in the Netherlands. Most describe a situation, often with a picture or a short audio clip, and ask what you should do or who you should contact. The exam has 40 of them. The real questions are confidential, but DUO offers two free practice exams online.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 40 (DUO practice exam) |
| Time | 45 minutes (inburgeren.nl) |
| Question type | Multiple choice, grouped by theme |
| Language | Dutch |
| Official practice | 2 free KNM practice exams (inburgeren.nl) |
| Real questions public? | No. You sign a confidentiality form (inburgeren.nl) |
More Dutch is not affiliated with DUO. Every example on this page was written by us to show the style. None of them are real or leaked exam questions.
How KNM questions work
The exam is on a computer. Questions come in blocks by theme, such as housing, work and income, or history and geography (inburgeren.nl). In DUO's practice exam, a short screen tells you which theme comes next. Then each question gives you a situation and a few answer options. Some include a photo, and some have audio you play by clicking.
Three things about the style are worth knowing:
- They test what you do as well as what you know. A question about rent is often "what is your next step", not "what is the law called".
- The options are close. Two answers can both sound reasonable. The right one fits how things are normally done here.
- The Dutch is simple, but you must read every word. Small words like eerst (first), altijd (always) and mag (is allowed) change the answer.
Six practice examples, one per theme
We wrote these in English so you can focus on the content. The real exam is in Dutch.
Housing
You rent a flat from a private landlord. You think the rent is too high for the quality of the home. Where can you ask for an independent check?
- A. The police
- B. The huurcommissie (rent tribunal)
- C. The Belastingdienst
Answer: B. The huurcommissie handles rent disputes between tenants and landlords. More in our housing guide.
Health and healthcare
It is Saturday night. Your child has a high fever, but it is not life-threatening. Your own doctor's practice is closed. Who do you call?
- A. 112
- B. The huisartsenpost (out-of-hours GP service)
- C. Your health insurer
Answer: B. 112 is for emergencies where life is at risk. Out of hours, you call the huisartsenpost. See health and healthcare.
Work and income
You wake up ill and cannot go to work. What do you do first?
- A. Call your employer to report sick
- B. Go to the UWV office
- C. Wait until you feel better, then explain
Answer: A. You report sick to your employer, usually on the first morning, following the rules of your workplace. See work and income.
Government services and money
You want to check your tax details on a government website. What do you usually log in with?
- A. Your BSN and date of birth
- B. DigiD
- C. Your bank card
Answer: B. DigiD is the login for most Dutch government services. See government services and money.
Education and upbringing
Your daughter turned 5 last month. What does the law say?
- A. She may start school when you think she is ready
- B. She must go to school
- C. She must start school at 6
Answer: B. Children in the Netherlands must go to school from the age of 5. See education and upbringing.
History
On which evening do people in the Netherlands remember the victims of war with two minutes of silence?
- A. 4 May
- B. 5 May
- C. 27 April
Answer: A. 4 May is Remembrance of the Dead. 5 May is Liberation Day and 27 April is King's Day. The renewed exam from 1 July 2025 pays extra attention to the Holocaust (rijksoverheid.nl), so study this period well in Dutch history.
Is there a KNM exam questions PDF?
Not an official one. DUO's KNM practice exams run online in your browser, not as PDFs. The only practice exams DUO offers as PDF downloads are the three for A2 Writing (inburgeren.nl).
Be careful with PDFs you find online that promise "real KNM questions". Real exam content is confidential and every candidate signs a form to keep it that way (inburgeren.nl). Those files are usually old, copied or simply wrong. Since the exam was renewed on 1 July 2025, older material may also miss the new subjects (inburgeren.nl).
If you want something to study offline, the KNM chapter guides work well. Each one covers a single exam theme.
Where to practise KNM questions
- DUO's official practice exams. Two full KNM practice exams, free (inburgeren.nl). Do one at the start and one near the end.
- DUO's extra resources. The same page points to netinnederland.nl for videos on exam subjects and oefenen.nl for lessons.
- More Dutch. The KNM practice exam has free 15-question drills drawn from 100 sample questions across all 10 themes. More Dutch Plus adds the full 450-question bank, chapter practice and mock exams for a one-time €14.99 (pricing).
Mix them. Official practice shows you the exact format. Our drills give you volume.
How to learn from practice questions
- Read the whole question before the options.
- For each wrong answer, write one line on why the right answer is right.
- Look up any Dutch word you guessed. Use the flashcards to keep them.
- Retake missed questions a few days later, not straight away.
For a full study plan, read how to pass the KNM exam. For the format and timing, see how many questions the KNM exam has. The bigger picture is in our inburgering exam guide.
Try a free 15-question KNM drill, or sign up for one KNM question a week.
Frequently asked questions
Are the real KNM exam questions online?
No. The real questions are confidential. Candidates sign a form not to share them. Anything claiming to be the real questions is not reliable.
How many questions are on the KNM exam?
40 questions in 45 minutes, according to DUO's official practice exam.
Are KNM questions multiple choice?
Yes. In DUO's practice exam, each question has a set of answer options and you click one.
Are the KNM questions in English?
No, they are in Dutch. The Dutch is fairly simple, but you need to read carefully.
Is there an official KNM practice test?
Yes. DUO offers two free KNM practice exams on inburgeren.nl. They run in your browser.
Do the questions change?
Yes. DUO renewed the KNM exam on 1 July 2025 with new practice exams and extra attention to women's self-determination and the Holocaust.