Wat is het KNM-examen?
Het KNM-examen (Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij) is een verplicht onderdeel van het inburgeringsexamen in Nederland. Als je volgens de Wet inburgering 2021 moet inburgeren, moet je dit examen behalen.
Het examen bestaat uit 40 meerkeuzevragen met drie antwoordmogelijkheden (A, B en C). Je hebt 40 minuten de tijd om het examen te maken. Om te slagen, moet je minimaal 28 van de 40 vragen goed beantwoorden. Dat komt neer op 70%.
| Aantal vragen | 40 meerkeuzevragen (A/B/C) |
| Tijd | 40 minuten |
| Slagings percentage | 28 / 40 goed (70%) |
| Taal | Nederlands (met audio support) |
| Waar | Officiële DUO examen centrum |
Let op: De vragen en het echte examen zijn in het Nederlands geschreven. Dit plaform heeft een Engelse en Arabische vertaling om je te helpen het examen te begrijpen, maar je moet de Nederlandse woordenschat over de Nederlandse samenleving leren om te kunnen slagen.
De 7 thema's van het KNM-examen
Every question on the KNM exam falls into one of seven topics. Knowing which topics are hardest lets you spend your study time wisely:
Work & Income (hardest) — employment contracts, UWV, minimum wage, sick leave, starting a business
Government & Rule of Law (hard) — parliament, voting rights, separation of powers, rule of law
Government Institutions (hard) — which agency handles what: DUO, UWV, municipality, Tax Authority
Housing (medium) — renting, municipality registration (BRP), tenant rights
Education & Children (medium) — school levels, compulsory education, childcare
Health & Care (easier) — GP, health insurance, emergency services (112 vs 0900-8844)
History & Geography (easier) — national holidays, key events, Dutch geography
Focus most of your time on Work & Income, Government & Rule of Law, and Government Institutions. These three topics cause the most failures.
Elke vraag op het KNM-examen valt binnen één van de zeven thema's. Als je weet welke thema's het moeilijkst zijn, kun je je studietijd verstandig indelen:
Werk & Inkomen (moeilijkst) — arbeidsovereenkomsten, UWV, minimumloon, ziekteverlof en een eigen bedrijf starten
Overheid & Rechtsstaat (moeilijk) — het parlement, stemrecht, de scheiding der machten en de rechtsstaat
Overheidsinstanties (moeilijk) — welke instantie waarvoor verantwoordelijk is: DUO, UWV, de gemeente en de Belastingdienst
Wonen (gemiddeld) — huren, inschrijven bij de gemeente (BRP) en rechten van huurders
Onderwijs & Kinderen (gemiddeld) — onderwijsniveaus, leerplicht en kinderopvang
Gezondheid & Zorg (makkelijker) — huisarts, zorgverzekering en hulpdiensten (112 vs. 0900-8844)
Geschiedenis & Geografie (makkelijker) — nationale feestdagen, belangrijke gebeurtenissen en de Nederlandse geografie
Besteed de meeste tijd aan Werk & Inkomen, Overheid & Rechtsstaat en Overheidsinstanties. Deze drie thema's zorgen voor de meeste problemen bij kandidaten.How to prepare: a step-by-step approach
Step 1 — Start at least 3 weeks before your exam
20–30 minutes of daily practice over 3 weeks beats 4 hours of cramming the night before. Your brain needs time to store and connect new knowledge. Set a consistent time each day and stick to it.
Step 2 — Practice with real multiple-choice questions
Reading about Dutch society is useful background — but it is not the same as practicing the exam. The KNM exam tests your ability to quickly choose the right option under time pressure. You need to practice that specific skill.
Practice now: Our free mock exam has 45 validated questions in the exact format of the real exam — 40-minute timer included. No account needed.
Step 3 — Analyse your mistakes
After every wrong answer, ask yourself: was it a language problem, a knowledge gap, or did I read the question too fast? Write the correct rule in your own words. One extra minute per mistake has an enormous effect on your next attempt.
Step 4 — Aim for 70–75% in practice
The passing score is 60%, but you should aim for 70–75% in practice. That gives you a comfortable margin. If you are consistently scoring above 70% in practice, you are ready for the real exam.
Step 5 — Do a full timed mock exam before your real exam
Sitting for 40 minutes with 45 questions is a skill in itself. Time pressure causes many people to rush and make avoidable mistakes. Do at least one full timed mock exam in the week before your real exam — this makes the actual experience feel familiar.
The 3 most common reasons people fail
Not practising the right format. Reading summaries is not the same as answering multiple-choice questions under time pressure. Practice the exam, not just the content.
Underestimating Work & Income. Dutch labour law is complex and different from most other countries. UWV, CAO, arboarts — these terms need to be second nature.
Confusing which institution does what. Knowing when to go to the UWV versus the municipality versus the Tax Authority is one of the most tested skills on the exam.
On the day of the exam
Bring a valid ID (passport, ID card, or driving licence) and your DUO confirmation. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Mobile phones must be switched off. The exam is on a computer — no special computer skills required.
Read each question twice. If you are unsure, skip it and return later. You have on average 53 seconds per question — don't rush.
Ready to start? Take the free mock exam now — 45 validated questions, 40-minute timer, instant feedback. No account needed.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can I take the KNM exam?
You can retake the KNM exam multiple times. There is a waiting period between attempts and costs are involved. Check DUO.nl for current rules and any reimbursement options for your specific integration route.
Is the KNM exam in Dutch or English?
The exam is in Dutch. There is no official English version. Some candidates with language difficulties may qualify for audio support — check with DUO if this applies to you.
When do I get my results?
Results are typically available shortly after the exam via Mijn DUO. You receive a breakdown by topic, so you know exactly which areas to focus on if you need to retake.