Learn to Read Dutch from Scratch
Three color-coded books that teach you the Dutch sound system step by step. From Pre-A1 to A2, one sound at a time.
3 books, 15 chapters, Pre-A1 to A2. Book 1 is free.
Colors That Teach You to Read
Every page uses three colors to show you exactly how Dutch sounds work. No grammar rules to memorize, just read and listen.
Yellow highlight
The target sound you are learning in that chapter
e.g. k̲a̲t (learning the short 'a')
Purple underline
The schwa sound, the most common vowel in spoken Dutch
e.g. de, het, een
Grey strikethrough
Silent letters you should not pronounce
e.g. The 'n' at the end of many verbs
From Zero to Reading Dutch
Each book builds on the last. Start with short vowels, end reading real Dutch.
De Korte Klanken
The Short Sounds
Start from zero. Learn the five basic Dutch vowels through simple, color-coded stories. Each chapter introduces one vowel sound with audio, exercises, and a dictation test.
De Lange Klanken
The Long Sounds
Build on Book 1. Master the long vowels that make Dutch sound like Dutch. Longer stories, more vocabulary, and the spelling rules that connect short and long vowels.
De Tweeklanken
The Diphthongs
The sounds that make Dutch unique. Tackle the tricky diphthongs with progressive stories that bring all your reading skills together. By the end, you can read real Dutch texts.
Simple Pricing
Book 1 is free. Get all three for the price of a coffee.
Book 1
De Korte Klanken
5 chapters covering all short Dutch vowels. Read online or download the PDF.
All 3 Books
Book 1 (free) + Books 2 & 3
15 chapters from Pre-A1 to A2. PDF and ePub for offline study.
These are the same books used in the DFL Methode tool on our dashboard. Get the printable PDF/ePub versions to study offline.
Veelgestelde Vragen
Frequently asked questions about the DFL Reading Books
Stap voor stap, sound by sound
Start with Book 1 for free. No account needed, no credit card required. Just open it and start reading.