Let’s review books teaching you Dutch without a teacher. Obviously, you can also learn a lot from classroom handbooks as well as from grammar books, especially if you’re at a higher level. But here, we’ll cover books primarily designed for people willing to learn the Dutch language on their own.
Disclaimer: I might get a small commission if you buy the book through the links. Stars (*) are based on my opinion.
Teach Yourself: Complete Dutch (5*) by Gerdi Quist and Dennis Strik
+ Popular and useful, well-structured and practical
– Outdated, no series
Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands
Level: (absolute) beginners
Language: mostly English
Paperback price: high
Formats: ebook and paperback
Buy via Amazon or via Bol.com
Dutch in three months (5*) by Jane Fenoulhet
+ Structure, dialogues, quality, price
– Condensed, outdated, no series, price with CDs (Tip: get the audio for free via an app in the newer version)
Audio in Dutch form the Netherlands
Level: (absolute) beginners
Language: mostly English
Paperback price: lowest
Formats: paperback
Buy via Amazon (here’s with CDs) or via Bol.com (old version)
Learn Dutch: Speak, write and understand (4,5*) by Alain de Raymond
+ Easy, structure, price, exercises
– Layout, only for absolute beginners
Audio in Dutch from Belgium
Level: absolute beginners
Language: mostly English
Price: lowest-low
Format: ebook and paperback
Buy via Amazon.com
Dutch for Dummies (4,5*) by Margreet Kwakernaak
+ Popular, fun and easy, cultural insights, pronunciation guide
– Lack of structure, no exercises
Audio in the Dutch from the Netherlands.
Level: (absolute) beginners
Language: mostly English
Price: average
Format: paperback
Buy via Bol.com (2nd edition here) and via Amazon (alternative here)
300+ common Dutch language errors made by English speakers (4.5*) by Alain de Raymond
+ Useful, exercises, price
– Presentation, structure
Audio with Belgian accent
Level: advanced beginners, intermediate
Language: mostly English
Price: lowest
Format: ebook and paperback
Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Beyond the dictionary: A Guide to Correct Word Usage for the English-Speaking Student (4*) by Bruce Donaldson
+ Useful, clear examples, relevant
– Presentation, old
No audio
Level: intermediate, expert
Language: mostly English
Price: average
Format: paperback
Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Dutch with ease (4*) by Assimil
+ Fun, lots of content, phonetics
– Presentation, price
Audio with Dutch accent
Level: (advanced) beginners
Language: mostly English
Price: average (without CDs), high-highest (with CDs)
Format: paperback
Buy with CDs via Bol.com or Amazon, or without CDs via Bol.com or Amazon.
77 puntjes op de I (4*) by Emily Palmer
+ Useful, exercises, good complement to handbooks
– Not popular, no solutions to exercises, difficult Dutch
Audio with accent from the Netherlands
Level: intermediate
Language: Dutch only
Price: average
Format: paperback
Buy via Bol.com or Amazon
Dutch for Self-study (4*) by Hinke Van Kampen & Ruud Stumpel
+ Quality, exercises, explanations, comprehensive
– Presentation
Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands
Level: (absolute) beginners
Language: instructions in English
Price: average
Format: paperback
Buy via Bol.com or via Amazon.
Colloquial Dutch (4*) by Bruce Donaldson
+ Relevant, many wordlists, cultural references
– Presentation, price
Audio in Dutch from the Netherlands
Level: (absolute) beginners
Language: English
Price: high
Format: paperback
Buy via Bol.com or via Amazon.
