KNM exam and Dutch naturalisation

Do I have to take the KNM exam to naturalise?

Usually yes. The IND says you must pass the civic integration exam, at language level A2, to naturalise. The KNM is one part of that exam. Some people are exempt from the exam or from parts of it. Some people can use the option procedure instead, which needs no civic integration exam.

Some examples of who may be exempt. This list is not complete:

• People with a Dutch diploma or certificate above primary level, if they followed the programme in Dutch.
• People who lived in the Netherlands for at least 8 years while they were of school age (between 5 and 16).
• People with a civic integration diploma at level A2 or above under the 2013 or 2021 law.Under the Wet inburgering 2021 you can take a voluntary A2 diploma, for example before you apply. Ask the IND whether it covers your case.
• People with a Belgian or Surinamese diploma, if the education was in Dutch.

Each of these has more conditions. Partial exemptions and dispensation, for example on medical grounds, also exist.

Check your own case with the IND before you plan your exam.

What is the KNM exam?

KNM stands for Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij. In English that is knowledge of Dutch society. You answer multiple-choice questions on a computer. The questions are grouped by theme.

We have not found the number of questions or the pass mark on an official page (checked 2 November 2026). Others report those two numbers below.

• The exam lasts 45 minutes.
• It has 40 questions.
• You need 28 correct answers to pass.
• You get the result by letter within 8 weeks. You can also see it in Mijn Inburgering.

These facts describe the KNM exam on inburgeren.nl. Ask DUO which version applies to you.

Dutch law lists eight subjects for the KNM exam:

• Work and income (werk en inkomen)
• Manners, values and norms (omgangsvormen, waarden en normen)
• Housing (wonen)
• Health and health care (gezondheid en gezondheidszorg)
• History and geography (geschiedenis en geografie)
• Government bodies (instanties)
• How the state and the rule of law work (staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat)
• Education and upbringing (onderwijs en opvoeding)

The IND says you register for the exam with DUO, at inburgeren.nl.

How does the free mock exam work?

The mock exam has 40 questions and a 45-minute limit. You do not need an account or a sign-up.

• The clock starts when you press start. It keeps running if you reload or close the page.
• At zero we score what you answered. Unanswered questions count as wrong.
• At the end you see your score, not the correct answers.
• There is a daily limit on free mock exams.

A mock score is practice only. It cannot tell you whether you will pass the real exam.

About this page

HeloMate is an independent practice site. It is not part of DUO, the IND or the government. This page is not legal advice.

Other guide