How the KNM exam works and how to think

What KNM is

KNM stands for Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij: knowledge of Dutch society. It is part of the inburgering exams for people under the Wet inburgering 2021 (B1-route and onderwijsroute) and the Wet inburgering 2013. It is not a language exam. The questions are in simple Dutch, but you are scored only on whether you know how life in the Netherlands works.

There is one KNM exam for everybody. It does not matter whether your language route is A2 or B1: the KNM exam is the same.

The format

The pass mark and fee can change, so always check inburgeren.nl before you book. You can retake the exam if you fail, but you usually pay again.

The eight themes

The law (Besluit inburgering 2021) lists eight themes. Every lesson in this course covers one of them, plus this introduction:

1. Werk en inkomen (work and income)
2. Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen (manners, values and norms)
3. Wonen (housing)
4. Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (health and healthcare)
5. Geschiedenis en geografie (history and geography)
6. Instanties (organisations)
7. Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat (government and rule of law)
8. Onderwijs en opvoeding (education and parenting)

How the questions think

Most KNM questions are not about memorising dates. They describe a person with a small problem and ask what to do. The exam wants the answer a sensible, law-abiding resident would choose. Use three quick steps:

1. Who? Who is the person: a tenant, an employee, a parent, a patient?
2. What? What is the problem: money, health, a conflict, a form, a rule?
3. First step? What is the normal first step, or which organisation is responsible?

Patterns that help

• Talk first, escalate later. With a neighbour, landlord or colleague, you first talk to the person directly. Only after that do you go to an organisation, mediator or the police.
• Make an appointment. For the doctor, the gemeente, a teacher and even friends: een afspraak maken.
• The right organisation. Benefits after losing your job: UWV. Taxes and allowances: Belastingdienst. Your address: gemeente. Residence permit: IND.
• Emergency or not? Life in danger: 112. Not urgent: normal phone numbers and opening hours.
• Equal rights. Answers that treat men and women, religions or sexual orientations differently are almost always wrong.

Spotting wrong options

Wrong answers often:

• skip a step (calling the police about loud music the first time);
• go to the wrong organisation (asking DUO for rent allowance);
• are too extreme or rude (Hij doet niets en wacht een jaar);
• break a rule (working without a contract, hitting a child).

If two answers look possible, choose the one that is legal, polite and practical.

Practice

Use the official practice exam on inburgeren.nl and the practice questions on this site. Read the explanation after every mistake: the same logic comes back many times.