What the Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) section tests
The Kennis van de Nederlandse Maatschappij (KNM) section tests what you know about Dutch society. It is not a speaking task, and it is not a behaviour quiz about what you personally would do. DUO tests facts, rules, institutions, and common situations in the Netherlands.
You answer multiple-choice questions on a computer. Each question has one item, one question, and three options: A, B, or C. In the live DUO exam, questions are grouped by theme.
The official themes are:
- Werk en inkomen (work and income)
- Omgangsvormen, waarden en normen (social behaviour, values, and norms)
- Wonen (housing)
- Gezondheid en gezondheidszorg (health and healthcare)
- Geschiedenis en geografie (history and geography)
- Instanties (institutions)
- Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat (state system and rule of law)
- Onderwijs en opvoeding (education and parenting)
The questions are usually short. Some have no setup text. Some start with one name and one everyday situation, then ask what rule or fact applies.
Example questions with answers
Below are worked examples in the same general DUO style: short Dutch question, three options, one correct answer.
Example 1
Waarom zijn de Deltawerken gebouwd?
A. Om vis te vangen
B. Om Nederland te beschermen tegen de zee
C. Om nieuwe steden te bouwen
Correct answer: B. Om Nederland te beschermen tegen de zee
English meaning: Why were the Delta Works built?
Example 2
Erik woont in een sociale huurwoning. Wat is dat?
A. Een woning met een maximum huurprijs
B. Een woning die je altijd kunt kopen
C. Een woning voor studenten alleen
Correct answer: A. Een woning met een maximum huurprijs
English meaning: Erik lives in social housing. What is that?
Example 3
Wie mag nieuwe wetten aannemen in Nederland?
A. De rechter
B. Het parlement
C. De politie
Correct answer: B. Het parlement
English meaning: Who may adopt new laws in the Netherlands?
Example 4
Mogen vrouwen in Nederland hetzelfde werk doen als mannen?
A. Ja, dat mogen ze
B. Alleen als de werkgever dat wil
C. Nee, dat mogen ze niet
Correct answer: A. Ja, dat mogen ze
English meaning: May women in the Netherlands do the same work as men?
Example 5
Wouter heeft een leeg blikje met statiegeld. Waar kan hij dit blikje inleveren?
A. Bij een supermarkt
B. Bij de gemeente
C. Bij een huisarts
Correct answer: A. Bij een supermarkt
English meaning: Wouter has an empty can with deposit. Where can he return it?
Why these answers are correct
These questions are manageable because each one tests one clear fact.
In Example 1, the key word is Deltawerken. This is a history and geography fact. The purpose was protection against the sea, not fishing or city building.
In Example 2, the phrase sociale huurwoning points to a housing rule. The correct answer is about a maximum rent price. The other options sound possible, but they do not define social housing.
In Example 3, DUO often tests the difference between institutions. Het parlement makes laws. De rechter decides on legal judgments, and the police enforce the law.
In Example 4, the question uses a common KNM pattern: Mag / Mogen ...? with one yes answer, one conditional answer, and one no answer. Here the correct rule is simple: women may do the same work as men.
In Example 5, you need the right place for the right task. A can with statiegeld goes back to a supermarket. The gemeente and a huisarts are real Dutch institutions, but they are the wrong match for this situation.
Common mistakes on this section
One common mistake is choosing an answer because one word looks familiar. That can cost you points. You need to read the whole question and match the exact rule, place, or institution.
Another mistake is mixing up institutions. On KNM, DUO often tests the difference between bodies such as the gemeente, the parliament, the police, and the judge. If you know who does what, many questions become easier.
A third mistake is missing the logic in Mag or Moet questions. The three options often follow a pattern: yes, only in some cases, or no. You need to know whether the rule is allowed, conditional, or forbidden.
Some learners also expect old-style questions about what you should do. The post-2025 KNM exam focuses on knowledge about Dutch society instead. That changes how you should practise.
How to practise further
The best way to improve is to practise short KNM questions in the same format again and again. Read the Dutch stem, choose A, B, or C, then check why the right answer is right. That builds speed and helps you remember the institution, rule, or fact behind the question.
On InburgeringPrep, you can practise more KNM items at A2 level with clear answer feedback. That makes the exam feel more familiar before test day, especially if you want Dutch examples with quick English support underneath.
Start with a small set each day. Focus on themes you mix up most, such as Wonen, Instanties, or Staatsinrichting en rechtsstaat. A few minutes of steady practice works better than one long session once a week.