This theme is about how people here treat each other: what is normal, what is allowed, and what the law says about it. And about how you make contact yourself.
This theme has two eindtermen (attainment targets): you can interpret omgangsvormen (manners) — that is, understand what is happening in a situation — and you can take part in social networks.
Note the word duiden (to interpret). The exam does not ask whether you adapt. It asks whether you can read a situation: why does that neighbour react like this, what is expected of me here?
The KNM eindtermen for the theme Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen are: interpreting different manners in the Netherlands, and taking part in social networks.
There is a difference between values and habits. Values are laid
down in law and apply to everyone. Habits differ per person, per city and per family.
The very first article of the Grondwet (Constitution) says that everyone in the Netherlands is
treated equally in equal cases, and that discrimination is not allowed — not on grounds of religion,
belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability or sexual orientation, and not on any other grounds
either.
Article 1 of the Grondwet: "All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted."
As part of your inburgering (civic integration) you sign the
participatieverklaringstraject (PVT, participation declaration programme). That is
exactly this subject, but in the form of a signature. It is about four core values:
Freedom
Everyone may say what they think and believe what they want. Also if someone else does not agree.
Equality
Men and women are equal. People of different origin, religion or orientation are equal.
Solidarity
Together we take care of people who are having a hard time, through taxes, insurance and help.
Participation
Taking part is expected: working, learning, volunteering, or contributing in another way.
Freedom has one limit, and that limit is the freedom of another person. You may say what you
think — but discriminating, threatening or inciting hatred is not allowed.
In the participatieverklaringstraject you learn what is important in the Netherlands: "Everyone in the Netherlands is equal. Everyone may choose for themselves what they believe. Everyone may say what they think. But discriminating is not allowed." After that you sign the participatieverklaring.
Now the habits. These are not rules, and not every Dutch person does it this way.
But you meet them often, and the exam uses them in situations.
Appointments and time
Being on time is important. If you are later than agreed, send a message.
Dropping by without an appointment is not usual, not even with friends. Call or send an app message first.
Having a diary is normal. "Shall we meet in two weeks?" is not a rejection.
Talking with each other
People often say quite directly what they think. That is usually not meant to be rude.
Saying "no" is allowed, and is not seen as an insult.
You address adults you do not know with u (the formal you). Often the other person will then say: "zeg maar je" (just use je, the informal you).
At a first meeting you usually shake hands. If you do not want to, you may say so — a friendly greeting is fine too.
At home and visiting
You are invited for a certain time, and there is then usually either food or no food. Feel free to ask.
At a birthday you also congratulate the family of the person whose birthday it is.
In a café or restaurant people often each pay for themselves. This is called "gaan we splitten?" (shall we split the bill?).
Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher
I say it every year to a new group: directness here is not anger. If your colleague says "that report is not correct", he is saying something about the report, not about you. For many course participants that is the biggest difference, bigger than the language.
The same is true the other way round: your habits are not wrong. You do not have to give up your own ways in order to integrate. The exam asks whether you recognise Dutch habits — not whether you take them over.
Part 4 · 2 min
Taking part in social networks
The second eindterm is practical: how do you get in contact with people? For work, for the
language and for yourself this is the most important thing you can do.
This works
Vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work) — you practise the language and you meet people outside your own circle
A taalmaatje (language buddy) or taalcafé (language café) through the library or VluchtelingenWerk
A sports club or association in the neighbourhood
Your children's school: parents' evenings, helping out on a school trip
Saying hello to your neighbours, and introducing yourself if you are new
This slows you down
Contact only with people from your own country — understandable, but then you hear little Dutch
Waiting until somebody invites you. Here you take the initiative yourself.
Thinking that you may only take part once you speak good Dutch
Vrijwilligerswerk is unpaid work for an organisation or association. The Rijksoverheid calls it a way of taking part in society; gemeenten and volunteer centres help arrange it.
Vrijwilligerswerk is the best language lesson there is, and it is free. Two half-days a week in a buurthuis (community centre) or a kringloopwinkel (second-hand shop) does more for your speaking skills than an extra course book. And it goes on your CV.
Part 5 · 2 min
How this comes back in the exam
Almost always as a situation with a question after it. A colleague says something, a neighbour
knocks at the door, you get an invitation. The question is then: what does this mean, or what do you
do?
Two rules of thumb help with this theme:
Talk about it yourself first
With a problem with a neighbour, a colleague or a school, the first good answer is almost always: start the conversation. Only after that does an official body come into the picture.
Nobody has to give way
Answers in which someone is treated unequally because of sex, religion or origin are never correct in this exam. That is Article 1.
Practise this theme with exam questionsSituations like in the real KNM exam, with an explanation after every answer.
This theme has two eindtermen (attainment targets): you can interpret omgangsvormen (manners) — that is, understand what is happening in a situation — and you can take part in social networks.
Note the word duiden (to interpret). The exam does not ask whether you adapt. It asks whether you can read a situation: why does that neighbour react like this, what is expected of me here?
The KNM eindtermen for the theme Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen are: interpreting different manners in the Netherlands, and taking part in social networks.
There is a difference between values and habits. Values are laid
down in law and apply to everyone. Habits differ per person, per city and per family.
The very first article of the Grondwet (Constitution) says that everyone in the Netherlands is
treated equally in equal cases, and that discrimination is not allowed — not on grounds of religion,
belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability or sexual orientation, and not on any other grounds
either.
Article 1 of the Grondwet: "All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted."
As part of your inburgering (civic integration) you sign the
participatieverklaringstraject (PVT, participation declaration programme). That is
exactly this subject, but in the form of a signature. It is about four core values:
Freedom
Everyone may say what they think and believe what they want. Also if someone else does not agree.
Equality
Men and women are equal. People of different origin, religion or orientation are equal.
Solidarity
Together we take care of people who are having a hard time, through taxes, insurance and help.
Participation
Taking part is expected: working, learning, volunteering, or contributing in another way.
Freedom has one limit, and that limit is the freedom of another person. You may say what you
think — but discriminating, threatening or inciting hatred is not allowed.
In the participatieverklaringstraject you learn what is important in the Netherlands: "Everyone in the Netherlands is equal. Everyone may choose for themselves what they believe. Everyone may say what they think. But discriminating is not allowed." After that you sign the participatieverklaring.
Now the habits. These are not rules, and not every Dutch person does it this way.
But you meet them often, and the exam uses them in situations.
Appointments and time
Being on time is important. If you are later than agreed, send a message.
Dropping by without an appointment is not usual, not even with friends. Call or send an app message first.
Having a diary is normal. "Shall we meet in two weeks?" is not a rejection.
Talking with each other
People often say quite directly what they think. That is usually not meant to be rude.
Saying "no" is allowed, and is not seen as an insult.
You address adults you do not know with u (the formal you). Often the other person will then say: "zeg maar je" (just use je, the informal you).
At a first meeting you usually shake hands. If you do not want to, you may say so — a friendly greeting is fine too.
At home and visiting
You are invited for a certain time, and there is then usually either food or no food. Feel free to ask.
At a birthday you also congratulate the family of the person whose birthday it is.
In a café or restaurant people often each pay for themselves. This is called "gaan we splitten?" (shall we split the bill?).
Marieke Schipper · NT2 teacher
I say it every year to a new group: directness here is not anger. If your colleague says "that report is not correct", he is saying something about the report, not about you. For many course participants that is the biggest difference, bigger than the language.
The same is true the other way round: your habits are not wrong. You do not have to give up your own ways in order to integrate. The exam asks whether you recognise Dutch habits — not whether you take them over.
Taking part in social networks
The second eindterm is practical: how do you get in contact with people? For work, for the
language and for yourself this is the most important thing you can do.
This works
Vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work) — you practise the language and you meet people outside your own circle
A taalmaatje (language buddy) or taalcafé (language café) through the library or VluchtelingenWerk
A sports club or association in the neighbourhood
Your children's school: parents' evenings, helping out on a school trip
Saying hello to your neighbours, and introducing yourself if you are new
This slows you down
Contact only with people from your own country — understandable, but then you hear little Dutch
Waiting until somebody invites you. Here you take the initiative yourself.
Thinking that you may only take part once you speak good Dutch
Vrijwilligerswerk is unpaid work for an organisation or association. The Rijksoverheid calls it a way of taking part in society; gemeenten and volunteer centres help arrange it.
Vrijwilligerswerk is the best language lesson there is, and it is free. Two half-days a week in a buurthuis (community centre) or a kringloopwinkel (second-hand shop) does more for your speaking skills than an extra course book. And it goes on your CV.
How this comes back in the exam
Almost always as a situation with a question after it. A colleague says something, a neighbour
knocks at the door, you get an invitation. The question is then: what does this mean, or what do you
do?
Two rules of thumb help with this theme:
Talk about it yourself first
With a problem with a neighbour, a colleague or a school, the first good answer is almost always: start the conversation. Only after that does an official body come into the picture.
Nobody has to give way
Answers in which someone is treated unequally because of sex, religion or origin are never correct in this exam. That is Article 1.
Practise this theme with exam questionsSituations like in the real KNM exam, with an explanation after every answer.
What is the difference between a value and a norm?
A value is what people find important, for example equality or freedom. A norm is the rule that follows from it, for example that you may not discriminate against someone. Values such as equality are in the Grondwet (Constitution); many norms are habits and are not written down anywhere.
Do I have to shake hands if I do not want to?
No, that is not compulsory. Shaking hands is a habit, not a law. You can greet someone in a friendly way and explain that you do not shake hands. Do keep in mind that some employers or schools do attach value to it; the conversation about it is then more important than the handshake itself.
Why are Dutch people so direct?
Directness is seen here as honest and clear, not as rude. Someone who criticises your work usually says nothing about you as a person by doing so. But note: not every Dutch person is direct, and the exam asks whether you can read the situation, not whether you become like that yourself.
How do I make contact with Dutch people?
Take the initiative yourself and look for places where you regularly see the same people: vrijwilligerswerk (volunteer work), a sports club, a taalcafé (language café) in the library or your children's school. You do not have to wait until your Dutch is good; most people actually like it when you try.
What is the participatieverklaring?
A declaration that you sign at your gemeente (municipality), as part of your inburgering. You declare that you want to take an active part in Dutch society and that you respect what is important here: freedom, equality, solidarity and participation. The gemeente informs DUO that you have signed.
Reviewed by Marieke Schipper, certified NT2 teacher — August 23, 2026 This page is a translation of that reviewed Dutch text; the translation itself was not reviewed. The Dutch version is the source.
Practise the theme Manners
Free practice exam of ten questions, with an explanation after every answer. No account needed.
