TL;DR

  • The CNaVT (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal) is the official international certificate of Dutch as a foreign language, jointly developed by KU Leuven and the Dutch Language Union.
  • Single annual exam window in May, registration mid-February to mid-March, recommended fee €75 (local centres may add admin).
  • The right certificate if you're learning Dutch outside the Netherlands.

What is CNaVT?

CNaVT (Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal, "Certificate of Dutch as a Foreign Language") is the equivalent of the Goethe-Institut Zertifikat for German or the DELE for Spanish: an internationally recognised certificate proving your Dutch level at a defined CEFR rung.

It is run by the Centre for Language and Education at KU Leuven in partnership with the Taalunie (Dutch Language Union). Recognition is broad: Dutch universities, Flemish universities, and many international employers accept it as proof of Dutch language ability.

The 2026 levels and profiles

Unlike a single ladder, CNaVT is organised around "profiles", exam formats tied to a CEFR level and a purpose. The currently offered profiles:

Profile CEFR Audience
Profiel Maatschappelijk Informeel (PMI) A2 Daily-life Dutch
Profiel Maatschappelijk Formeel (PMF) B1 Formal civic / community Dutch
Profiel Educatief Startbekwaam (PES) B2 Higher-education entry
Profiel Educatief Professioneel (PEP) C1 Academic, professional

The educational profiles (PES, PEP) are the ones most often required for university entry or professional credentialing.

2026 exam dates

  • One exam session per year, in May 2026.
  • Registration window: roughly mid-February to mid-March 2026.
  • New for 2026: the exam moves to a fully computer-based format. You still sit it in person at an accredited test centre, there is no remote / at-home option.

Check the centre's local calendar; some test centres publish their May 2026 sitting dates publicly weeks in advance.

Fees

The CNaVT recommended exam fee is €75 per profile. Local test centres add their own admin and proctoring fees:

  • Radboud University, Nijmegen: PES (B2) listed at €105 exam + €50 admin. PEP (C1) at €125 exam + €50 admin.
  • Leiden University publishes its current fee on their certificate page.
  • University College London (UCL): confirm directly via their Dutch Studies team for the 2026 fee.
  • US sittings (e.g. Orange County Dutch School): higher all-in costs (several hundred USD) due to local overheads.

Always confirm the all-in cost at your specific test centre before registering.

Where you can take it

CNaVT is one of the more globally distributed Dutch exams. Verified active test centres include:

  • Leiden University (the Netherlands)
  • Radboud University (the Netherlands)
  • UCL (UK)
  • University of Groningen Language Centre (the Netherlands)
  • INL Luxembourg
  • South Africa (private centres including learndutch.co.za)
  • United States (private Dutch schools)
  • Dutch Studies departments at major US, Australian, and German universities

For a current full list, the official CNaVT site is the source of truth.

CNaVT vs the Staatsexamen NT2

This is the question almost every prospective candidate asks. The short answer:

  • CNaVT: for learners outside the Netherlands or Flanders, or for international recognition. Once a year (May), at globally distributed centres.
  • Staatsexamen NT2: for learners inside the Netherlands who need a Dutch government certificate. Year-round dates, in-person at NL centres, €200 for the full programme.

If you're in Amsterdam working on B2, take the Staatsexamen. If you're in Singapore or São Paulo and want a recognised Dutch language credential, take CNaVT.

How to prepare

  • The Boom NT2 series (De Opmaat, De Sprong, De Finale) maps cleanly onto A1 to B2 and works as a study spine even outside the Netherlands.
  • A Preply Dutch tutor is the most practical solution for learners abroad, picking one who has actually taught CNaVT prep is worth filtering for.
  • Free supplements: Bart de Pau's YouTube channel for vocabulary, Dutchies to Be (Kim) for grammar explanations.
  • Inside Belgium, KU Leuven ILT and Linguapolis Antwerp are the natural in-country prep routes.

Related: how Dutch Fluency fits

At Dutch Fluency we mostly serve learners inside NL, but our app's grammar drills and listening modules work fine for CNaVT candidates abroad too, the CEFR target is the same. We recommend pairing daily app practice with one weekly Preply tutoring session focused specifically on the profile format (PMF, PES, etc.) you've registered for.

FAQ

How much does the CNaVT exam cost in 2026? Recommended fee is €75. Local centres may add admin or proctoring fees (Radboud lists €105 + €50 admin for PES B2). US private schools charge more.

When are the CNaVT exam dates in 2026? Once per year, in May. Registration runs mid-February to mid-March. From 2026 the exam is computer-based but still sat in person at test centres.

What levels are available? A2 (Maatschappelijk Informeel), B1 (Maatschappelijk Formeel), B2 (Educatief Startbekwaam), C1 (Educatief Professioneel).

CNaVT or Staatsexamen NT2: which should I take? CNaVT if you live outside the Netherlands and want an internationally recognised certificate. Staatsexamen NT2 if you live in the Netherlands and need a Dutch government certificate for work, study or naturalisation.

Where can I take the CNaVT exam outside the Netherlands? Through accredited test centres worldwide, UCL (London), INL (Luxembourg), South African Dutch schools, US Dutch schools, plus dozens of universities. The full directory is on the official CNaVT site.