You may be wondering how a bunch of books will help you learn Dutch. Research states that reading directly influences your control over a specific language. It tackles subtle aspects like vocabulary, confidence, and comfort with a new language. Reading Dutch story books for beginners will introduce you to words, sentence structure, and Arabic etymology.
It is necessary to start with a basics-friendly book when you’re learning a language. Most people go wrong in setting unrealistic goals with the expectations of massive leaps. This can make the learning process highly unsatisfactory. A quick fix to this problem is to pick the best books to learn Dutch for beginners. Bingo! This blog is here to highlight those for you.
Give these 12 Dutch books a shot
- Colloquial Dutch: The Complete Course for Beginners
Looking for a way to expand your Dutch knowledge while strengthening your basics? Its abundant exercises to practice what you just learned makes it one of the best books to learn Dutch. Get closer to native Dutch as you level your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
It also contains grammar explanations, a fair amount of vocabulary, and examples of realistic dialogues. The best part about this book is that if you are a self-learner, the answer key, translations, and bilingual glossaries will meet you halfway.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Beginners to start with simple Dutch
- Essential Dutch Grammar
A favourite of hundreds of Dutch learners, this book takes a deep dive into the grammatical technicalities of Dutch. It is a great Dutch beginner book to get off to an elaborate start. It will allow you to gain a crystal clear understanding of Dutch speech.
This simple Dutch book for beginners explores similarities between English and Dutch. This makes it easier for English speakers to navigate Dutch better. It focuses on spellings, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, articles, verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, and prepositions with enough examples.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: An immersive grammar learning process
- 201 Dutch Verbs
A bright side of Dutch is that it has fewer verbs than English. Yet it is important to note that Dutch verb conjugations are more complex. Consider picking this Dutch beginner book to ease your way into this transition. 201 Dutch Verbs is a book that lists a total of 201 regular as well as irregular verbs.
In alphabetical order, each verb takes an entire page to use the rest of the space for conjugations. A bonus point of this book is that it includes several Dutch idioms to sound native.
Reviews: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Verbs in Dutch grammar
- Collins Dutch Phrasebook
Be it vacations or daily scenarios, this Dutch language book for beginners will come in handy. It accumulates some of the most common topics and phrases to ensure a seamless learning process. Along with 3000 words in this book, it has an elaborate menu decoder, grammar sections, and a CD to help you learn.
If you’re a traveller, this book has got you covered. Travel instructions and tips will truly prove to be a lifesaver.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Beginners who want to master Dutch social cues.
- Ziezo
Ziezo is one of the first books you ought to choose when you want to study Dutch. The author Annie M.G. Schmidt jots down 347 rhymes for children and pages of lively illustration. This is the best book to learn Dutch for beginners as it will speed up the learning process by familiarising you with common Dutch words and phrases.
“Ziezo” translates to “There You Are.” Keep a dictionary handy to look up words you don’t recognise. Make sure to read these poems to yourself and catch up with the Dutch inflection.
Review: 4 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: A seamless start to learning Dutch
- Woeste Willem
Woeste William by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert is a popular pick and an easy find. Its fluid structure and quick messages make it one of the best books to learn Dutch for beginners to ace Dutch like a pro.
This story revolves around a pirate protagonist, the “Fierce Willem.” The life-like illustrations in this book tell a story in themselves.
Review: 5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Beginners who have a knack for Dutch literature.
- Mineos
This children’s book is a classic example of Dutch story books for beginners. The language in which this story is delivered is fairly light and easy to understand while still challenging your limits. This book is penned by a renowned Dutch author of children’s literature Annie M.G. Schmidt.
This story centres around a bewildering event where a cat turns into a woman. It’s a fun medium that keeps you entertained while honing your Dutch language skills.
Review: 5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Check this out! https://amzn.eu/d/0mDhFRa
Ideal for: Beginners who want to strengthen their Dutch reading skills
This story book will be an inquisitive map that will strengthen your Dutch one way or the other.
- Knielen op een bed violen
Pick this Dutch language book for beginners to challenge themselves. It is aimed at warmed up beginners ready to take the next step. It is an award-winning novel that portrays the influence of religious fundamentalism on family and relationships.
The author Jan Siebelink draws inspiration from his past to deliver this devastating tale. It will let you in on the Dutch vocabulary concerned with religious and familial scenarios.
Review: 4 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Readers who want to read a simple memoir in Dutch
- Dutch Story Book for Beginners
You can expand your vocabulary in any language if you only remember to pick the right books. Storybooks will keep you entertained and subtly etch the basics into your memory. Instead of overwhelming yourself with expert-level novels in Dutch literature, try familiarising your mind with short stories first.
This Dutch story book for beginners contains a collection of 20 gripping stories. Through simple language and a common vocabulary, this book delivers the fundamentals of daily conversation in Dutch.
Review: 5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Getting the hang of Dutch sentence structures.
- Short Stories in Dutch
The hesitation behind picking a children’s book— however unreasonable— is real and one many people identify with. This Dutch story book for beginners is an ideal anthology of eight short stories. These stories touch several genres across the spectrum, from sci-fi and crime to thriller and history.
Learn upto 1000 words and understand grammar structures to the tee. You can have fun with these stories using glossaries, bilingual word lists, and questions to test how far you’ve come.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
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Ideal for: Learning common Dutch words and grammar rules
- Interlinear Dutch to English
If you want to take the leap into Dutch literature but feel unsure, allow this book to fix it. This is the best book to learn Dutch for beginners as it opens your mind to classic Dutch literature. It contains stories from Dutch authors like Multatuli and Hildebrand.
The best thing about this collection is that you won’t have to search for translations as it provides ready-made translations for every word. While the English translations won’t make literal sense, they will elevate your understanding of Dutch words even if you are in a time crunch.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
Amazon link:
Check this out! https://amzn.eu/d/8pTyufS
Ideal for: Classic lovers who want Dutch to English translations.
- De Aanslag
De Aanslag is a Dutch story book for beginners centred around World War II. It translates to “The Assault” in English. A reputed author, Harry Mulisch, narrates this story brutally and straightforwardly. This writing style will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The reader will follow a 12-year-old boy who has to go on with life after the Nazis murdered his family. He mourns and tries to move on with his life.
Review: 4.5 stars (based on Amazon public review)
Amazon link:
Check this out! https://amzn.eu/d/iIovpFe
Ideal for: Beginners who want to perfect their Dutch grammar skills
Final Thought
Dutch stands as the third-most spoken language when it comes to the German language. Because of its similarities with English and German, it is considered a little of both. Allow this blog to guide you through a game-changing list of Dutch language books for beginners. Use this mix of language and storybooks to hone this language.