this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2025
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Suggestions for children's books in Dutch to help learn the language and develop vocabulary (programming.dev)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by promitheas@programming.dev to c/thenetherlands@feddit.nl
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Hello everyone!

I won't drag the post out too much since most of the info is already in the title, but I would love to hear some suggestions for some children's books to help me develop comfort with, and vocabulary in Dutch.

In terms of my level with the language, I have been doing some Duolingo for over 3 years, but I really started learning and understanding rules and such a couple months ago when I started online lessons.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: A couple people suggested Annie M.G. Schmidt so I looked at the first book in the Jip en Janneke books, but it seems that its too advanced for my level. I'll need to work my way up to that slowly. In the meantime, any suggestions for books aimed more towards 2-3 year olds? I feel like that would be more my current vocabulary level, and I can work my way up from there. Thanks

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[–] pro_user@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Dutch books (for children) use the ‘AVI’ system to indicate the reading level. The system is structured: the higher the level, the more difficult the vocabulary in the book. The levels are:

  • avi s/start (learning to read)
  • avi m3 (reading level required in the middle of 3rd grade)
  • avi e3 (reading level required in the end of 3rd grade)
  • avi m4
  • avi e4
  • …
  • avi m7
  • avi e7
  • avi p/plus (reading level required in 8th grade, end of primary school)

For comparison, this is what Avi start looks like, the left page is written on average e5 level.

I don’t know if you are located in the Netherlands, if so, the libraries have dedicated sections for each of the Avi-levels, the librarians can show you where to find them. Also online you can find many lists of recommended books for each Avi level. Once you are comfortable with one level, move up to the next level until you have reached the end. By the time you are comfortable with e7 or plus, you can safely grab any other book you can find!

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

This seems exactly like what I need to start searching :)

I'm currently not in the Netherlands, but I plan to relocate there permanently (hence why I am trying to learn the language) to hopefully work as an embedded software engineer since that industry is basically non-existent in my country. So basically I'm forced to find stuff online, or look for libraries here which may have Dutch books, but I doubt there will be any

Edit: I also found this list, which I think could be helpful: https://www.dutch4beginners.com/dutch-reading-list-childrens-books

[–] Shelena@feddit.nl 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

I think some of the work by Annie M.G. Schmidt might be nice. She is one of the most famous writers of Dutch children's books. She wrote poems (Ik Ben Lekker Stout is my favourite) as well as books (such as Jip en Janneke and Pluk van de Pettenflat). I have very fond childhood memories of it.

Edit: Maybe I should add that it is very old fashioned. If you want something more modern, I would try something else.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Thanks, yea I think I want something a bit more modern for the beginning, unless the language hasn't changed much? What do you think?

[–] Taalnazi@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Annie MG Schmidt is great. She doesn't write that old fashioned, imo. Biggest difference if any there might be, is using "u" (formal pronoun) more.

Carry Slee is also great, but she's more B-level.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 2 points 3 weeks ago

I suppose I could start with Annie MG Schmidt and have Carry Slee as a goal to work towards then :)

[–] Shelena@feddit.nl 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

There are some words that we don't use that often anymore, but other than that it is not that different from now. The subjects might be a bit different though (e.g. no mobile phones or personal computers yet when this was written). However, Annie MG Schmidt was very progressieve for het time. In her work for adults, for example, she wrote a beautiful and heartbreaking song about what it was like to be gay in the seventies. It is called "Sorry dat ik besta", if you are interested.

I think lots of Dutch people grew up with Arnie MG Schmidt, so it might be a nice way to get to know Dutch culture a bit also.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Thats good then, I'll get started on her works then and take it from there :)

[–] Shelena@feddit.nl 1 points 3 weeks ago

Ik ben benieuwd wat je ervan vindt!

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Wiplala!

[–] DonAntonioMagino@feddit.nl 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I’d like to add that it may also be a good idea to find Dutch media you actually like. Not to say you can’t like childrens’ literature, of course, but I learnt German in part because liked German (classical) music and movies, and it motivated me to want to understand what was actually said. So I started translating German songs into Dutch and watching German movies with Dutch subtitles. I also started following a German YouTuber’s let’s plays of historical games - when I started my German comprehension wasn’t very good, but it quickly improved.

When it comes to suggestions, maybe look around on Spotify or some other music streamer to find something you like.

My favourite Dutch movies are Max Havelaar (1976) and Soldaat van Oranje (1977). Admittedly, I don’t watch many movies.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 3 points 3 weeks ago

I tried using the subtitles trick, but it was before I started lessons with a tutor and since Duolingo doesn't really do a great job of introducing a variety of vocabulary, or teaching the actual grammar rules I found it difficult. As an example, in the 3 years I was doing Duolingo I had no idea that in a sentence with 2 verbs the second verb is always at the end, until I was taught this in my lessons with the tutor. I might give it another shot now that Im learning vocabulary as well as the actual rules of the language

[–] RunawayFixer@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Comics might be good, the stories need less words to progress, protecting you somewhat from being bored with the story as you take longer to interpret the words. Jommeke is a classic, but you'll be able to find many more titles aimed at young children. "strips voor jonge kinderen" or "strips voor beginnende lezers" gave me some good results.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 3 points 3 weeks ago

This could be a good idea, I might mix in a few comics with more regular stories

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The Dick Bruna books, like Nijntje and De Koning.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 3 points 3 weeks ago

I'll check them out, thanks!