Dutch stories with audio and English translation, free, A1 to Pre-A1

75 free Dutch stories to read and listen to

Open a story and press Listen. The voice reads paragraph by paragraph and the page follows it, with the English next to each Dutch paragraph. Each level starts with its shortest stories.

The shortest 20 at each level are shown here; the Dutch–English library has them all.

How to read and listen in Dutch

Beginners: follow the text with your eyes while the audio plays, at a slower speed if you need it, and do the same story again the next day.
Intermediate: listen once without reading, then again with the text, and see what you missed.
Any level: tap the words that keep coming back. With a free account they’re saved for review, and you can export them to Anki.

More on why this works in reading while listening and turning your words into flashcards.

Questions

Are these Dutch stories with audio free?

Yes. Every story on this page is free to read and to listen to in the browser, and neither needs an account.

Can I slow the audio down?

Yes. The player has a speed control, skips by paragraph, and follows the text as it reads, so you always know where you are.

Can I see the English while I listen?

Yes. The English sits beside each Dutch paragraph, and you can hide it until you want it. Tap any word for its meaning in that sentence.

What level are these Dutch stories?

They run from A1 to Pre-A1 on the Common European Framework, shortest first. Start where you understand most of a page.