The Dutch Readers series: classics you can read at A2, then B1, then in the original
Dutch Readers are Dutch classics rewritten in short, clear Dutch for learners: A2 volumes in the present tense with about 1,000 words of vocabulary, B1 volumes with past tense and about 2,000. Every book has a glossary after each chapter, questions with answers and free audio. Volume 1 is out on 15 December 2026.
The reading ladder
The idea is simple. You read a story at A2, when you know about 1,000 words. You read the same story, or the next one, at B1 with 2,000 words and the past tense. Then you open the original and find that you already know what happens, so the old spelling and the long sentences do not stop you. Every volume is one rung of that ladder, and the ladder is the same for every reader.
- A1Beginner~500 words
- A2Inburgering level~1,000 words
- B1Intermediate~2,000 words
- B2Upper intermediate~4,000 words
- OrigineelThe original text
Each book says on the cover which rung it is. An A2 book never uses the past tense in the narration and never uses a sub-clause beyond als, dat, omdat, want and maar. A B1 book does. Every text is checked against NT2Lex, the word list for Dutch as a second language, and the percentage of A1 and A2 words is printed in the book.
What is in every book
- The full story at the level: about 3,000 words in three chapters for an A2 volume, more for B1.
- Who is who, and the names and places, on one page before you start.
- A glossary after every chapter: the hard words with the article and the English meaning.
- Five questions per chapter, with the answers at the back.
- The complete word list at the back, in the order of the chapters.
- A QR code at the start of every chapter to the free audio on this site, read at learner speed.
- One page from the original text, so you can see where the ladder leads.
- The NT2Lex percentage on the back cover: for Volume 1, 92 percent of the words are A1 or A2.
The volumes
Out first
- A2
Saïdjah en Adinda
Multatuli's most famous story, from Max Havelaar (1860), at A2. Three chapters, 88 pages, paperback 10.99 euro, Kindle 4.99 euro.
Out on 15 December 2026
| Volume | Title | After the original by | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saïdjah en Adinda | Multatuli, from Max Havelaar (1860) | A2 | Out on 15 December 2026 |
| 2 | Dik Trom | C. Joh. Kieviet, Uit het leven van Dik Trom (1891) | A2 | In preparation |
| 3 | Kees de jongen | Theo Thijssen (1923) | A2 | In preparation |
| 4 | Max Havelaar | Multatuli (1860) | B1 | In preparation |
| 5 | Wij slaven van Suriname | Anton de Kom (1934) | B1 | In preparation |
| 6 | Afke's tiental | Nienke van Hichtum (1903) | A2 | In preparation |
| 7 | Camera Obscura | Hildebrand (1839) | B1 | In preparation |
| 8 | Eline Vere | Louis Couperus (1889) | B1 | In preparation |
| 9 | Nederland in de oorlog | Written for this series | A2 | In preparation |
| 10 | Van Kyiv naar Amsterdam | Written for this series | A2 | In preparation |
Why these books: they are the stories Dutch people know. Dik Trom and Kees de jongen are the childhoods every Dutch grandparent read about. Max Havelaar changed how the Netherlands saw its colony, and Wij slaven van Suriname is the answer from the other side. Camera Obscura and Eline Vere are the nineteenth century at its sharpest. When you know these stories, you understand half of what Dutch people refer to, and you can read the originals at B2.
Where to buy
The books are printed and sold through Amazon: paperback and Kindle on amazon.nl and amazon.de (10.99 euro for the paperback, 4.99 euro for Kindle), and the paperback on amazon.com (12.99 dollars) and amazon.co.uk (9.99 pounds). Each product page on this site has the buy buttons for your marketplace. The audio is never sold: it is free here, for everyone, whether you bought the book or not. Some links on this site earn us a small commission; the price is the same for you.
Who makes the books
One person: Andrew Demianenko, a marketer in Amsterdam and a Dutch learner at A2. Each volume is rewritten from the original, read by an independent critic for grammar, naturalness and level, checked word by word against NT2Lex, and read by a native speaker before it is printed. The audio is recorded for the book, not generated. Read more on the about page.
Is A2 really A2?
Yes, and you can check it. The percentage of A1 and A2 words on the NT2Lex scale is printed on the back cover of every volume; for Volume 1 it is 92 percent. Every other word is in the glossary after the chapter. The free first chapter on this site is the same text as the book, so read it first and see.
Do I need the original to read a volume?
No. Each book tells the whole story at its level. One page of the original is included at the back so you can see the distance to the top rung, and when you reach B2 the originals are free online at dbnl.org.
Is there an ebook?
Yes, a Kindle edition for every volume, with the same glossary after each chapter. There is no ePub yet.
Can I use the books in an NT2 class?
Yes. The questions have answers, the audio is free for everyone, and the first chapter of every volume is free on this site as a sample. For a class set, reply to any newsletter email.