One of the most common things students ask me is: "What can I listen to in Dutch?"
While for an A1-level it's hard to recommend anything authentic (except perhaps children's shows), if you have an A2 level I have a good recommendation: Dutch news. No, not regular news where the newscaster seems to breathe only once every two minutes, but NOS Journaal in Makkelijke Taal!
It’s a short daily video from NOS (the official Dutch news channel) that explains three current news stories in simple, clear language. And by “simple,” I don’t mean “childish.” The topics are real and relevant—things like elections, healthcare, international events, protests—just explained slower and articulated better. The sentences are shorter, the vocabulary is more accessible, and difficult words are explained in the video itself.
That said, you do need a bit of a base. If you’re around level A2 or higher, this is a great way to push your listening skills. If you’re still at A1, it might be frustrating—but save it for later. It gets better, I promise.
My advice
Here’s how I suggest you work with it:
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Watch the video once without stopping. Just listen. See what you pick up. Don't stress about what you don't.
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Then, watch it again. Pause after each story and try to tell someone—your partner, your cat, your own reflection—what it was about in Dutch. Even if it’s just keywords, that’s progress.
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If you use the LanguageReactor browser extension (see my blogpost about it here), you can add subtitles in Dutch + your native language.
- Watch again and write down new words/expressions/sentences you learned.
The more you do it, the more you’ll understand. And the best part? They post daily on working days, so you're never running out.
Ready to try?