Dutch KNM Exam practice test
Free Dutch KNM Exam practice for Netherlands: 82 questions with explanations, timed mock exams and progress tracking.
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Language note: the official test is in Dutch. Questions here are in English to help you learn the content. Use the official material to learn the exact wording.
Dutch KNM Exam mock tests
2 fixed mock tests of 40 questions each, timed like the real test (pass mark 70%). Every question in the bank appears in exactly one mock, so working through all of them covers the whole bank.
About the Dutch KNM Exam
Last reviewed: October 19, 2026 · Checked against the official source linked on this page.
The KNM exam (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, Knowledge of Dutch Society) is part of the Dutch civic integration exam (inburgeringsexamen). You need it for permanent residence and for naturalisation, and it is compulsory for most people who must integrate under the Civic Integration Act (Wet inburgering 2021).
The exam is taken on a computer at a DUO exam location and lasts about 45 minutes. It has 40 multiple-choice questions, usually built around a short description or picture of an everyday situation, such as visiting a doctor, applying for a job, renting a home or dealing with the municipality, and it asks what you should do or what applies. The fee is 50 euros per attempt. DUO does not publish a fixed pass mark; a widely quoted estimate is about 28 of 40, so we use 70% as a practice target. The real exam is in Dutch at roughly A2 level; this site shows the questions in English so you can learn the content first.
Who has to take it
Most people from outside the EU who came to the Netherlands to settle must complete civic integration, and KNM is one of its exams alongside reading, writing, listening and speaking Dutch. Whether KNM applies to you, and at what level, is set out in your personal integration plan (PIP) with your municipality, and in Mijn Inburgering. Some people are exempt, for example holders of certain Dutch diplomas, people with a medical reason confirmed by a designated doctor, or those who can show long residence and sufficient integration; DUO decides on exemptions. Asylum status holders may get their first two attempts at each exam free under the 2021 law.
Booking and results
You book KNM in Mijn Inburgering, choosing a DUO location and date. Waiting times can be several weeks, so book well before any deadline in your integration period. Bring valid ID. Results arrive by letter within about 8 weeks and also appear in Mijn Inburgering. If you fail, you can book again; you pay the fee for each attempt unless you still have free attempts.
What the questions cover
DUO groups KNM into eight themes: work and income; manners, values and norms; housing; health and healthcare; history and geography; institutions; government and the rule of law; and education and upbringing. Unlike many citizenship tests, KNM is mostly practical: how the GP (huisarts) system works, what a CAO is, when you need a work permit, how to register a birth, what the municipality does, how schools are organised and which holidays are national. Our questions and answers page is grouped by these themes.
KNM and the other integration exams
KNM is only one part. You also need the language exams (A2 under the old law, B1 for most routes under the 2021 law, with an A2 fallback route) and, for most people, the ONA or the newer labour-market module, plus the participation statement. Naturalisation itself is applied for at the municipality or the IND after you have the integration diploma or a recognised exemption. Our guide to the KNM exam explains how it fits with the other parts.
How to study
- Use practice mode by theme and read every explanation; the explanations carry the practical rules the exam is really testing.
- Learn the names of Dutch institutions and documents (huisarts, DigiD, gemeente, UWV, Belastingdienst, CAO, BSN) in Dutch, because they appear in the real questions untranslated.
- Watch DUO’s free KNM practice exam in Dutch once you know the content, so the format and vocabulary are familiar.
- Take a timed mock exam until you reliably score 30 or more out of 40, then review your weak questions.
Our questions are written from DUO’s published KNM themes and practice material. Check Inburgeren.nl, linked on this page, for current fees, exemptions and your own obligations.
| Official name | Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) |
|---|---|
| Format | Multiple-choice questions on a computer at a DUO location, often based on short videos or situations |
| Language | Dutch (A2 level) |
| Who takes it | People who must integrate under the Civic Integration Act, and most applicants for naturalisation or permanent residence. |
| Exemptions | Some people are exempt, for example if they hold certain Dutch diplomas or have a medical reason. DUO decides on exemptions. |
Official test topics
- Work and incomeFinding work, employee rights, minimum wage and benefits.10 questions
- Manners, values and normsHow people treat each other, national days and customs.9 questions
- HousingRenting, allowances, neighbours and waste.10 questions
- Health and healthcareGPs, health insurance and emergency services.11 questions
- History and geographyKey events and the geography of the Netherlands.12 questions
- InstitutionsGovernment organisations such as the municipality, the Belastingdienst and the UWV.9 questions
- Government and the rule of lawThe monarchy, Parliament, the Constitution and the law.12 questions
- Education and upbringingThe school system and raising children.9 questions
Sample questions
Answer: Your GP (huisarts). The GP is the first point of contact and refers you to a specialist if needed.
Answer: No, discrimination based on working hours is prohibited. Dutch law prohibits discrimination on grounds including race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, nationality, and full-time or part-time working hours.
Answer: 1919. All men gained the vote in 1917 and women in 1919. Aletta Jacobs, the first woman admitted to a Dutch university and the first female doctor, helped lead the women's suffrage movement.
How to prepare
Do the official KNM practice exams on inburgeren.nl to get used to the format.
Think about what a reasonable person would do in each situation. Many questions test practical judgement.
Learn which organisation does what: municipality, Belastingdienst, UWV, DUO, GP.
Practise your Dutch reading and listening at A2 level, since the exam is in Dutch.
Study guides for the Dutch KNM Exam
- KNM Exam Guide: Knowledge of Dutch Society Explained – The KNM exam (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij) is part of Dutch civic integration. Learn what it covers,…
Dutch KNM Exam FAQ
What does KNM stand for in the Netherlands?
Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij, which means Knowledge of Dutch Society.
Do I need the KNM exam for Dutch citizenship?
Most applicants for naturalisation must have passed the civic integration exam, which includes KNM, unless they are exempt.
Is the KNM exam in English in the Netherlands?
No. The official exam is in Dutch at around A2 level. This site uses English to help you understand the topics.
Where do I book the KNM exam in the Netherlands?
You book it through your Mijn Inburgering account on the DUO website, inburgeren.nl.
Where can I practice the Netherlands citizenship test?
For the KNM (Knowledge of Dutch Society) exam, DUO publishes free official practice exams in Dutch on inburgeren.nl. On this page you can practise 82 KNM questions in English with explanations and take timed mock exams.
The real exam is in Dutch and often uses short videos or situations, so finish with DUO's practice exams to get used to the format.