Inburgering Planner & School Mapper
Calculate your remaining DUO Inburgering exam costs and 8-week result turnaround times, and map your child's age (0–18) across the Dutch school system.
Each official computerized exam costs €50 per attempt at a DUO test center in the Netherlands.
Total DUO examination fees payable directly on inburgeren.nl via iDEAL.
Statutory DUO waiting time to receive official exam scores in your Mijn Inburgering portal.
Number of testing components required before DUO issues your final integration diploma.
📚 KNM Exam Guide: Essential Dutch School Rules
On the official DUO KNM exam, several core questions test your understanding of school laws and pathways:
- Leerplicht (Compulsory Education): In the Netherlands, school is legally compulsory from the first school day of the month after a child turns 5 years old until age 16. Between 16 and 18, youth have a kwalificatieplicht until they achieve a basic diploma (MBO level 2, HAVO, or VWO). Parents face legal fines from the attendance officer (*leerplichtambtenaar*) if children skip school without permission!
- Four-Year-Olds (Vierjarigen): Children are allowed to start primary school (*basisschool*) on their 4th birthday, but it is not legally compulsory until age 5. Almost 98% of Dutch parents enroll their kids at age 4.
- Schooladvies & Doorstroomtoets: In Groep 8 (around age 11–12), the school gives a formal recommendation (*schooladvies*). The teacher's advice is the leading factor determining whether the child enters VMBO, HAVO, or VWO.
- Free Tuition & Vrijwillige Ouderbijdrage: Primary and secondary state-funded education in the Netherlands is free. Schools may ask for a parental contribution (*ouderbijdrage*) for field trips and extra activities, but by Dutch law, this contribution is 100% voluntary. Schools cannot exclude children if parents cannot pay!
❓ Frequently Asked Questions: DUO Exams & Dutch School System
Essential rules, official timetables, and statutory definitions tested on the KNM exam:
How much do the DUO Inburgering exams cost in 2026?
Each examination component (KNM, Lezen, Luisteren, Schrijven, Spreken) costs €50 per exam attempt through the official DUO portal (Mijn Inburgering). If you must pass all 5 exams to meet your integration requirement, the total examination fee is €250. The Participation Statement (Participatieverklaringstraject / PVT) is conducted via your municipality and does not incur a DUO fee.
How long does DUO take to issue Inburgering exam results?
By law, the Dutch Education Executive Agency (DUO) has a maximum turnaround of 8 weeks to issue official results. Computer-graded multiple-choice exams like KNM, Reading, and Listening often publish grades in Mijn Inburgering within 1 to 3 weeks. Human-evaluated tests (Writing and Speaking) typically take 6 to 8 weeks.
At what age is schooling compulsory (leerplicht) in the Netherlands?
School attendance is legally mandatory (volledige leerplicht) from the first school day of the calendar month after your child turns 5 years old until age 16. Between 16 and 18, youth are under kwalificatieplicht (they must stay in school until they obtain a basic qualification diploma: MBO level 2+, HAVO, or VWO). Children may voluntarily start primary school on their 4th birthday.
What is the difference between VMBO, HAVO, and VWO?
At age 12 (Groep 8), students transition into one of three high school tracks based on their schooladvies: VMBO (4 years) prepares students for vocational colleges (MBO); HAVO (5 years) prepares students for universities of applied sciences (HBO); and VWO (6 years, including Atheneum and Gymnasium) prepares students for academic research universities (WO).