KNM Examen: Format, 8 Themes and 6 Sample Questions
Table of Contents9 sections
The KNM examen is the Dutch civic integration exam on knowledge of Dutch society: 40 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, each with a picture, a question read aloud and three answer options. KNM stands for Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (knowledge of Dutch society), and you take it on a computer at DUO.
Below you will find the format used since 1 July 2025, the eight themes, six sample questions written for this guide, a study plan, and how KNM differs from KNS, the society test taken abroad.
In short: 40 questions, 45 minutes, three options each, with a picture and a spoken question for every item. It costs 50 euro, it is scored by computer, and DUO's free practice exam counts as passed at 28 of 40 (the real exam's pass mark is not published).
You need KNM on the B1 route and the onderwijsroute, and under the older 2013 law. Do the two free official KNM practice exams before you book.
Who takes the KNM exam
Inburgering means civic integration. The inburgeringsexamen proves you have met your integration obligation (inburgeringsplicht), and DUO runs it for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
Under the Wet inburgering 2021, KNM is part of the B1 route (most people) and the onderwijsroute (education route, mainly young people heading to MBO, HBO or university). The Z-route (self-reliance route) requires no exams. Under the older Wet inburgering 2013, KNM sits next to the A2 exams in reading, listening, speaking and writing.
Each exam stands on its own. Pass KNM and you keep that result; fail it and you rebook and pay only for KNM.
KNM exam format since 1 July 2025
DUO introduced a new version of KNM on 1 July 2025, so ignore older descriptions.
Feature | KNM |
|---|---|
Questions | 40, each with 3 options |
Time | 45 minutes |
Every question | A picture, and the question is read aloud |
Question style | A short everyday scenario about a named person |
Where | On a computer at a DUO location |
Scoring | By computer; DUO's practice exam passes at 28 of 40 |
Fee | 50 euro |
Results | Within 8 weeks, by letter and in Mijn Inburgering |
How a question is built
Each question starts with a short situation about one named person. You see a picture, hear the question and choose one of three answers. Forty questions in 45 minutes leaves a little over a minute each, enough to listen in full and think.
Booking
You book in Mijn Inburgering with your DigiD at one of six DUO locations: Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rijswijk, Rotterdam, Utrecht or Zwolle. DUO warns it can take more than 6 weeks before you can take an exam, and you can change or cancel free, with a refund, up to 1 week before. Details are on inburgeren.nl.
The 8 KNM themes
DUO sorts KNM questions into eight themes. Organise your study notes the same way.
Theme | What it deals with |
|---|---|
History and geography | The country's past, its regions and cities |
Housing (wonen) | Living in a home, neighbours, moving house |
The state and the rule of law (staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat) | How the country is governed, elections, rights |
Work and income | Finding and doing work, money to live on |
Public bodies (instanties) | Organisations you deal with, such as the gemeente |
Education and raising children (onderwijs en opvoeding) | School and bringing up children |
Manners, values and norms (omgangsvormen, waarden en normen) | How people treat each other, equality |
Health and health care | The huisarts (GP), insurance, emergencies |
Core facts to know by heart
- Health: the emergency number is 112. For a non-urgent problem you see your huisarts (GP) first; the GP refers you to a hospital or specialist. Basic health insurance (basisverzekering) is compulsory for residents.
- The state: the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy with the King as head of state. The government is formed after elections for the Tweede Kamer (House of Representatives), normally every 4 years.
- Values: Article 1 of the Constitution says everyone in the Netherlands is treated equally in equal cases; discrimination is not allowed.
- Education: compulsory schooling (leerplicht) starts at age 5.
- Housing and public bodies: when you move house within the Netherlands, you report your new address to the gemeente (municipality).
History and geography, and work and income, cover more ground than a short list can. For those, rely on the official practice exams and your lessons or course book.
Six sample KNM questions
We wrote these for this guide in the style of the exam, in short and simple Dutch; none is taken from DUO material. The picture is described in words. Each key rests on a core fact above, so history and geography, and work and income, have no sample.
Sample 1: a cough (health and health care)
Picture: a woman sits on the sofa at home with a tissue.
Vraag: "Fatima hoest al een week. Het is geen noodgeval. Wat doet Fatima eerst?"
- A. Ze belt haar huisarts.
- B. Ze gaat zelf naar het ziekenhuis.
- C. Ze belt 112.
Answer: A. For a non-urgent problem you go to your huisarts first; the GP refers you to a hospital if needed. It is not an emergency, so 112 is wrong.
Sample 2: an accident (health and health care)
Picture: a man lies on the pavement next to a bicycle; another man stands beside him with a phone.
Vraag: "Peter ziet een ongeluk. Een man ligt op straat en hij beweegt niet. Welk nummer belt Peter?"
- A. Het nummer van de gemeente.
- B. 112.
- C. Het nummer van zijn huisarts.
Answer: B. 112 is the emergency number, and a man who does not move after an accident is an emergency.
Sample 3: elections (the state and the rule of law)
Picture: a woman puts a voting paper into a ballot box.
Vraag: "Sanne stemt voor de Tweede Kamer. Hoe vaak zijn er normaal verkiezingen voor de Tweede Kamer?"
- A. Elk jaar.
- B. Elke vier jaar.
- C. Elke tien jaar.
Answer: B. Tweede Kamer elections are normally held every 4 years. The word normaal tells you the question is about the regular rhythm.
Sample 4: refused at the door (manners, values and norms)
Picture: a man stands at the door of a café; a staff member holds up a hand to stop him.
Vraag: "Ali wil koffie drinken in een café. Het café laat hem niet binnen, omdat hij uit een ander land komt. Mag dat?"
- A. Ja, dat mag. Het café beslist zelf.
- B. Ja, dat mag, maar alleen 's avonds.
- C. Nee, dat mag niet. Dat is discriminatie.
Answer: C. Article 1 of the Constitution forbids discrimination. Refusing Ali because of the country he comes from is discrimination.
Sample 5: a new address (housing and public bodies)
Picture: a man carries moving boxes into a new flat.
Vraag: "Yusuf verhuist van Utrecht naar Zwolle. Waar moet hij zijn nieuwe adres doorgeven?"
- A. Bij de gemeente.
- B. Bij de politie.
- C. Bij zijn oude buren.
Answer: A. When you move house within the Netherlands, you report your new address to the gemeente.
Sample 6: starting school (education and raising children)
Picture: a mother holds the hand of a small boy with a school bag.
Vraag: "Anna heeft een zoon, Tim. Tim is 4 jaar. Vanaf welke leeftijd moet Tim naar school?"
- A. Vanaf 3 jaar.
- B. Vanaf 5 jaar.
- C. Vanaf 7 jaar.
Answer: B. Compulsory schooling (leerplicht) starts at age 5, and the word moet (must) asks about that legal duty.
Notice how small words decide the answer: eerst (first), normaal (normally), moet (must). Listen for them, then rule out the options that break a fact you know.
How to study for KNM
Start with the official practice exams
The free practice page at inburgeren.nl has 15 practice exams in the real exam software, 2 of them for KNM. There are no model answers and the player does not show the keys in advance, so treat each attempt as a real test.
Build a word list per theme
Scenarios rest on everyday words such as gemeente, huisarts, verzekering, leerplicht and verkiezingen. Give each theme a page: every key word with an English gloss and one example sentence.
Learn the reason behind each rule
You go to the huisarts first because the GP refers you on; you call 112 because it is an emergency. A question can put the same rule in a new situation, and the reason helps you spot it.
A four-week plan
- Week 1: do the first KNM practice exam and sort your mistakes by theme.
- Weeks 2 and 3: study two themes per session, update the word list, and explain each core fact aloud in simple Dutch.
- Week 4: do the second practice exam, then revisit the themes where you still lose points.
If your deadline is close, book first and study while you wait: the wait can be more than 6 weeks.
KNM vs KNS: the society test abroad
People who need an mvv (provisional residence visa), mainly partners and family members, take the Basisexamen inburgering buitenland at a Dutch embassy or consulate. Its society part is KNS (Kennis van de Nederlandse Samenleving), a different test.
Feature | KNM (Netherlands) | KNS (abroad) |
|---|---|---|
Questions | 40 | 30 |
Time | 45 minutes | 30 minutes |
Options | 3 | 2 |
Format | Picture; question and options read aloud | Photo, spoken question |
Preparation | 2 free practice exams | All questions and answers in the self-study pack photo book |
Pass mark | Real exam not published; practice exam 28 of 40 | 6 or higher out of 10 |
Fee | 50 euro | 50 euro per part |
Passing KNS does not end your integration obligation: once you live in the Netherlands, the inburgering rules apply and KNM is a separate exam. KNS practice questions are on naarnederland.nl.
Plan the rest of your inburgering
KNM is one exam in a larger set. Our full inburgeringsexamen guide covers the routes, the other exams, fees and deadlines. Mocko is building Dutch practice, and you can ask for it from that page.
FAQ
The KNM exam has 40 questions and you get 45 minutes. Each question has a picture, and the question and its three answer options are read aloud. DUO has used this format since 1 July 2025.
