Our teachers are experts in language acquisition. You will practice regularly with your fellow students as well as with native Dutch speakers, while also reading Dutch newspapers, literature and watching Dutch films.  

After the first semester, most lectures will be given in Dutch, ensuring a high level of proficiency. Upon graduation you will be able to speak Dutch confidently and present your bachelor's thesis (a report on research or an internship) at CEFR level C1.

You will explore fascinating questions in linguistics, such as whether it is harder to learn Dutch if your mother tongue language is Japanese or  Swedish, and whether a ‘knack for languages’ really exists.

The courses on Dutch literature will give you an overview of the history of Dutch literature and the opportunity to read and analyse the most important literary works, such as Multatuli’s ‘Max Havelaar’ (1860) or ‘Hilda van Suylenburg’ (1897) by Cécile de Jong van Beek en Donk. 

In the course Representation of the Netherlands in Film, you will analyse and reflect on the representation of societal themes in Dutch films, such as ‘Süskind’ (2012), ‘Michiel de Ruyter’ (2015), and 'De Libi' (2019). 

This course deals with Dutch history from approximately 1780 until now. Attention is given to political, socio-economic, religious and cultural aspects. Which political incidents were of great importance to the Dutch identity? How are these incidents remembered to date? And what do the recent political developments mean?

In your classes on Art History we focus on understanding famous Dutch and Flemish artists and their impact. Artists we will discuss include: Jan van Eyck, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Mondrian.