Want to learn Dutch? There are many reasons you might want to do so. Maybe you’re taking a trip to the Netherlands this year. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn a foreign language and Dutch seems like a great fit for you. Maybe you have Dutch heritage, or you’re studying abroad in Europe this semester.
Whatever the case might be, learning Dutch can be a lot easier when you start listening to Dutch podcasts, whether those are podcasts that are created with the sole purpose of teaching you Dutch or podcasts that are simply in the Dutch language.
Podcasts are a readily available, affordable language learning tool that are easy to incorporate into your daily schedule. Plus, many language learning podcasts also offer additional resources to help with your language learning goals, such as flashcards or worksheets.
While they may not be as comprehensive as a Dutch course, they’re still a great addition to any study routine.
Interested in giving podcasts a try as you learn Dutch? Here are seven to consider.
Podcasts for Beginners
If you have absolutely no clue where to start when it comes to learning Dutch, you’ll want to kick off your Dutch learning experience with these podcasts created specifically with beginners in mind.
DutchPod101
DutchPod101 offers podcast-style lessons that teach beginning Dutch language concepts, all the way up to more advanced concepts, so you can make use of the podcast throughout your entire Dutch language learning journey.
Although some lessons are available for free on whichever podcast player you use, accessing the majority of the content would require a subscription. In the lessons, two hosts explain a dialogue, covering important grammar points, vocabulary, and cultural information.
Read the full review of DutchPod101.
One Minute Dutch
For a crash course in Dutch, you may want to check out the 10 short episodes of One Minute Dutch. Each episode is, of course, one minute in length, and teaches you a very basic Dutch speaking concept.
It covers things like greetings, numbers and basic conversational phrases. It truly is a resource for beginners only, and is a great place to start if you want to put a few easy Dutch sayings under your belt before moving on to more advanced concepts.
Those traveling to the Netherlands may also find these podcast episodes helpful. While you obviously won’t learn to speak and understand Dutch at length, learning a few phrases never hurts.
To Speak Dutch
This podcast is no longer active, but there’s a nice selection of old episodes that teach Dutch basics, from language skills and grammar to words and phrases you might use while traveling in the Netherlands. There are 27 episodes, each under five minutes in length, cover topics such as days of the week, verb tenses, phrases you might need at a restaurant or hotel, pronounces, numbers and more.
Intermediate
If you know the basics of the Dutch language, including basic words and phrases, then you might feel like you’re ready to take on some more difficult concepts. To help you do so, consider downloading an intermediate-level Dutch podcast.
Say It in Dutch (Zeg Het in Het Nederlands)
Say It in Dutch, also called Zeg Het in Het Nederlands, is an intermediate-level Dutch language learning podcast that allows you to further refine your Dutch listening and interpretation skills.
The Dutch language is spoken at a slow pace in each episode and then listeners can use a full transcript PDF to follow along, so that they learn the language as it’s being spoken to them. There are only a few episodes, less than 25, but many language learners find the podcast to be an excellent resource regardless.
Advanced
Do you already feel pretty confident in your Dutch speaking, reading and listening skills? Then you may decide it’s time to move on to more advanced podcasts, that are fully in Dutch and that discuss common topics in the Dutch language. This gives you the ability to put your skills to the test, as you aim to understand the topics at hand with the same ease as a native speaker.
SBS Nederlands
The SBS Nederlands podcast produced by the Special Broadcasting Service gives listeners a range of interviews, features and news stories, focusing on both international and local news.
The Dutch broadcast gives you the ability to listen to stories you might already be familiar with, in a Dutch context, so you can focus on the language and how it comes together to convey messages and stories you already know. There are more than 100 episodes to listen to, with new episodes uploaded either every day or every few days. Most episodes are under 10 minutes in length.
Dutch Sermons on SermonAudio
Similarly, if you’re familiar with religious concepts, then you may find that listening to Dutch Sermons on SermonAudio to be an easy way for you to keep up with your Dutch language learning skills, as you listen to real sermons given in the Dutch language.
Each podcast is around an hour and a half in length, giving you plenty of material to work with, and though there are a limited amount of episodes, you’ll find that new episodes are uploaded every few weeks.
Really Happened (Echt Gebeurd)
A Dutch-language podcast hosted by comedians and writers, Really Happened (or Echt Gebeurd) is spoken entirely in Dutch. It’s very entertaining and focuses on people telling true stories that are a tad unbelievable.
For advanced Dutch speakers, it provides a fun way to keep your Dutch skills sharp. There are more than 200 episodes and new episodes are uploaded weekly, with each episode being about 10 or 15 minutes long.
Final Thoughts
Whatever your reason for learning Dutch, using the many Dutch podcasts out there will make your language learning process that much easier. From beginning to advanced podcasts, there’s something for everyone.
Do you already have a favorite Dutch podcast? Tell us about it in the comments below!