All foreign dentists must demonstrate that they have a satisfactory command of the Dutch language (Dutch at B2+ level = sufficient proficiency and interactive medical Dutch). Any person providing care in the Netherlands must legally be able to communicate in a language that can be understood by the client – so foreign dentists working in the Netherlands must be able to speak Dutch.
If you have graduated in an EU-country or Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you have to take a Dutch language test.
If you have graduated outside of the European Union or a country mentioned above, you have to provide language certificates of your Dutch and English proficiency.
Admissible evidence of language proficiency
- a certificate of qualification from a Dutch-language vocational training programme
- both a primary and secondary education diploma from Dutch-language education institutions
- a Certificate of Professional Competence (valid for 2 years after issue)
- a certified certificate awarded after successful completion of the Dutch language test 'Taaltoets Nederlands voor medici uit de EER'. You can prepare for and take this test with Taleninstituut Babel. It awards a certificate with which you can demonstrate that you have achieved the level required under the BIG Register Act: Dutch at B2+ level and sufficient proficiency in interactive medical Dutch.
Dutch language courses
Providers of language courses (for healthcare workers) include the following.
- Dutch in Dialogue (DiD) provides tailor-made Dutch language and culture courses for foreign dentists, orthodontists and oral surgeons (from beginner through proficient level). Our course 'Medisch Nederlands, B2 -> C1 CEFR' is not only aimed as passing the AKV test, but also proves to be a flexible transfer to your future medical workplace. An online beginners course is now available.
- Babel has a wide range of Dutch language courses to offer and courses for foreign dentists. They offer language courses and official recognised certifications (for your BIG registration). Babel offers group courses as well as tailor-made ones. You can take a free online language test to assess your current Dutch skills.
- Dutch for professionals offers a specialised programme of Dutch language courses for medical personnel. This enables dentists to start studying Dutch or to quickly expand their existing knowledge of the language.
- Radboud In’to Languages in Nijmegen is the expertise centre for language and communication at Radboud University. In an Intensive Language Programme you will learn the language, understand the Dutch way of communicating and get insights into the Dutch healthcare system.
Other institutes include:
- Talencentrum Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, Groningen
- Talencentrum Universiteit Maastricht, Maastricht
- VU NT2 (Dutch as a second language), Amsterdam
- Lest Best, Utrecht
- Language institute Regina Coeli, Vught
- Instituut Jeroen Bosch, Vught
The University of Groningen offers a free online introduction to Dutch several times a year: ‘Learn to speak, write and understand basic Dutch, with this free, three-week, introductory foreign language course’.
Dutch dentistry vocabulary
It can be quite a challenge to find a comprehensive list of translations of dentistry terminology. For this reason, Dutch in Dialogue has created its own list of translations of all the Dutch dental terms they could think of into English. Feel free to download and use this list, and if you have any improvements or suggestions, please contact info@dutchindialogue.com.
- Dutch dentistry terms with English translations (Dutch in Dialogue list)
- First aid medical survival kit: Dutch in Dialogue (DiD) has developed a pragmatic Dutch language tool for foreign dentists to apply directly in more complex situations. For more information, please mail to: info@dutchindialogue.com