Belgium’s Flemish Region now requires newcomers to pass a Dutch test for community integration. This rule applies to everyone, whether they volunteered or were required to join. The test impacts their path to Belgian citizenship and housing.
Before September 2023, each school had its own Dutch test, but now there’s one for everyone. The Flemish government is aiding newcomers’ integration, introducing changes in 2019, like a ten-year residency for housing and requiring Dutch use by subsidized groups.
The first standardized Dutch test was in Antwerp, ensuring equal proficiency at the A2 level. Ben Weyts, overseeing education, aims for consistent Dutch skills, regardless of the learning background. In 2021, the Koala test assessed Dutch skills in preschoolers’ final year.
Flemish Dutch language test, Newcomer language requirement, Flanders Dutch proficiency, Integration language assessment, Flemish Region language rule