Textbooks and grammar exercises are great for building a foundation.

But if you want to actually understand Dutch people when they speak to you, you need exposure to the real, everyday language.

In second language acquisition, this is called comprehensible input.

One of the easiest and most fun ways to get this input from the comfort of your own couch is by watching Dutch movies and TV shows. Not only will you learn new vocabulary, but you’ll also get an ear for different Dutch accents and regional variations.

Here’s a list of best Dutch movies and TV shows to help you speed up your learning.

1. Ares

If you like horror and psychological thrillers, Ares is a great TV show to start with. It’s an eight-episode series available on Netflix.

The story follows a young college student in Amsterdam who joins a secret, elite student society. Things quickly turn dark and creepy.

Because it takes place in Amsterdam, the actors speak with a very standard “Randstad” accent. The dialogue is modern, making it a fantastic way to learn how young Dutch people speak today.

2. Undercover

Undercover is one of the most popular Dutch-language TV shows in the world right now. It’s a thrilling crime drama about two undercover police agents trying to take down a drug lord.

This show is an absolute goldmine for regional variations. The characters live on the border between the Netherlands and Belgium. Because of this, you’ll hear a mix of standard Dutch, the southern Brabantian dialect, and Flemish (Belgian Dutch).

3. Dirty lines

Set in Amsterdam in the 1980s, Dirty Lines tells the comedic and dramatic story of the brothers who started Europe’s first erotic telephone lines.

It’s very fast-paced and full of historical and business vocabulary. Since the characters are ambitious young people, the language is mostly standard Dutch with an Amsterdam twist. It’s a very entertaining way to practice your listening comprehension.

4. Toon

Toon is a hilarious, lighthearted comedy series. It follows a socially awkward musician named Toon who accidentally becomes famous after a video of him goes viral.

This show is perfect for beginners and intermediate learners. Because Toon is so awkward, there are a lot of silent pauses and slow, uncomfortable conversations. The vocabulary is extremely practical for everyday life.

5. De slimste mens

De Slimste Mens (The Smartest Person) is not a drama series; it’s a very famous Dutch game show! Famous Dutch people compete to answer trivia questions.

Game shows are highly recommended for language learners. The presenters and guests speak very clearly into microphones, and the questions are often written on the screen. Plus, it’s a great way to learn about Dutch culture, geography, and history.

6. Zwartboek

Moving on to movies, Zwartboek (Black Book) is one of the most famous Dutch films ever made. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, it’s a thrilling World War II drama about a Jewish singer who infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters.

The dialogue is clear and slightly formal. If you enjoy history, this movie will teach you a lot of advanced Dutch vocabulary related to war, politics, and survival.

7. De slag om de schelde

Also known as The Forgotten Battle in English, this is a recent, high-budget Netflix movie about World War II. It tells the story of a British pilot, a Dutch boy fighting for the Germans, and a Dutch female resistance member.

This movie takes place in Zeeland, a province in the south of the Netherlands. You’ll hear a mix of standard Dutch, the Zeeuws dialect, and English.

8. Alles is liefde

Alles is Liefde (Love is All) is the ultimate Dutch romantic comedy. It’s loosely based on the movie Love Actually but takes place during the traditional Dutch holiday of Sinterklaas.

If you want a break from crime and war, this is the movie for you. It features very casual, romantic, and friendly conversation. It’s also the perfect crash course on how the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas!

9. De patrick

If you want to focus on Belgian Dutch, De Patrick is a strange, funny, and brilliant movie from Belgium. It’s about a handyman at a nudist camp who loses his favorite hammer and goes on a quest to find it.

Flemish (the Dutch spoken in Belgium) sounds softer and uses slightly different vocabulary than the Dutch spoken in the Netherlands. Watching Belgian movies is the best way to train your ear for these differences.

10. Ferry

If you end up loving the TV show Undercover, you have to watch Ferry. This movie is a prequel that shows how the main villain, Ferry Bouman, became a drug boss.

Just like the show, it features a heavy Brabantian accent. You’ll learn plenty of local slang and street vocabulary.

Tips for learning Dutch with tv and movies

To actually improve your Dutch, you can’t just sit back and watch. You have to watch actively. Here are some top tips:

• Turn on Dutch subtitles, not English ones. Reading the Dutch words while hearing them spoken bridges the gap between written and spoken language.
• Keep a notebook nearby. Write down words or phrases that you hear repeated often.
• Pause and repeat. If an actor says a cool phrase, pause the TV and try to copy their exact pronunciation.

Here’s an example of a common phrase you’ll hear in almost every Dutch drama or crime show:

To help you navigate the menus on Netflix or your TV, here’s a quick list of Dutch movie and TV vocabulary: