A1 and A2, confirmed

Neither level gets split by real course providers — no "A1.1/A1.2" the way B1, B2 and C1 get split. Each is its own single, undivided level. What does exist below A1: a real, officially-named CEFR level — Pre-A1, commonly called A0 by schools.

Where this comes from. CEFR quotes as on the main Dutch Level Ladder, cross-checked once more here. Course syllabus lines are from Lest Best's actual A1 and A2 course pages (function/topic lists — Lest Best does not publish grammar-by-chapter detail this early the way it does for B1). Full citations at the bottom.

↓ Pre-A1 ↓ A1 ↓ A2

Pre-A1

Before A1

A real CEFR level, officially named — not a placeholder, not a school invention.

Pre-A1 is the Council of Europe's own term, added officially in the 2020 Companion Volume, for absolute beginners with nothing to build on yet. "A0" is the informal label most Dutch schools use for the same level — confirmed directly: Lest Best names its very first course "NT2 Summerschool Nederlands A1: A0 naar A1" and "Cursus Nederlands A1: A0 naar A1", treating A0/Pre-A1 as the starting line, not a taught level with its own content of its own.

Council of Europe, 2020, Companion Volume (Pre-A1) · Lest Best B.V., course titles, retrieved 2026-09-11

First contact

Survival Dutch — familiar, concrete situations only.

In plain terms

Introduce yourself, and ask someone else to
Handle a shop, a café, a simple form
Follow slow, helpful Dutch about things right in front of you

Official CEFR wording

English — Council of Europe global scale "Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help." Council of Europe, 2001, Table 1, p. 24

Nederlands — accredited translation, Gesprekken voeren "Ik kan deelnemen aan een eenvoudig gesprek, wanneer de gesprekspartner bereid is om zaken in een langzamer spreektempo te herhalen of opnieuw te formuleren en mij helpt bij het formuleren van wat ik probeer te zeggen." Fasoglio et al. (Eds.), 2015, p. 53

Real course syllabus — Lest Best, Cursus Nederlands A1

What actually gets taught

Jezelf voorstellen, vertellen over familie, iets bestellen, vragen hoe het gaat, een afspraak maken, vragen stellen, positief/negatief beoordelen. (The semi-intensive variant adds: groeten en afscheid nemen, een voorstel doen, bedanken, boodschappen doen.)

Duration 6–9 weeks depending on pace Leads to A2

Lest Best B.V., Cursus Nederlands A1: A0 naar A1, retrieved 2026-09-11, lestbest.nl/cursussen/

Everyday basics

Personal, routine topics — work, family, shopping, home.

In plain terms

Talk about your day, your family, your work, in simple terms
Tell a short story about the past
Ask questions back, not just answer them

Official CEFR wording

English — Council of Europe global scale "Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need." Council of Europe, 2001, Table 1, p. 24

Nederlands — accredited translation, Gesprekken voeren "Ik kan communiceren over eenvoudige en alledaagse taken die een eenvoudige en directe uitwisseling van informatie over vertrouwde onderwerpen en activiteiten betreffen. Ik kan zeer korte sociale gesprekken aan, alhoewel ik gewoonlijk niet voldoende begrijp om het gesprek zelfstandig gaande te houden." Fasoglio et al. (Eds.), 2015, p. 57

Real course syllabus — Lest Best, Cursus Nederlands A2

What actually gets taught

Vragen en vertellen over situaties in het verleden, een technisch probleem beschrijven, een praatje maken, voorwerpen en omgeving beschrijven, informatie vragen en geven.

Duration 6 weeks (intensive) Leads to B1.1 (via an optional A2-B1 bridge course)

Lest Best B.V., Cursus Nederlands A2: A1 naar A2, retrieved 2026-09-11, lestbest.nl/cursussen/

One more real thing: the A2-B1 bridge

Lest Best sells a named course for exactly the seam between A2 and B1: "Cursus Nederlands A2-B1: A2 naar A2-B1" — "In de A2-B1 cursus rond je A2-niveau af en maak je een start met taalniveau B1. Je leert telefoneren, beschrijven, praten over je plannen voor de toekomst en beschrijvingen geven van voorwerpen." This isn't a CEFR sublevel and isn't the same convention as B1.1/B1.2 — it's a genuinely separate bridging product, worth knowing exists but not part of the .1/.2 pattern.

Lest Best B.V., Cursus Nederlands A2-B1, retrieved 2026-09-11

References

Council of Europe. (2001). Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge University Press. Table 1, p. 24.
Council of Europe. (2020). Common European framework of reference for languages: Learning, teaching, assessment — Companion volume. Council of Europe Publishing. Pre-A1 level.
Fasoglio, D., De Jong, K., Trimbos, B., Tuin, D., & Beeker, A. (Eds.). (2015). Taalprofielen 2015: Herziene versie van Taalprofielen 2004. SLO. slo.nl/publish/pages/2890/taalprofielen-2015.pdf. Openly licensed (CC BY). pp. 53, 57.
Lest Best B.V. Cursussen (A0–A2 course listings and blurbs). Retrieved 2026-09-11 from lestbest.nl/cursussen/.