A1 Nederlands Stories
A1 Nederlands stories are designed for absolute beginners. Each story uses basic vocabulary (around 300 words), simple present tense, and short sentences. Perfect if you're just starting to learn Nederlands. Click any word or sentence for instant translation. These stories typically take 1-3 minutes to read and help you build foundational vocabulary through context.
45 stories available
Birthday Party
A child celebrates their eighth birthday with family and friends. Their mother makes a chocolate cake and father decorates with balloons. Friends arrive with presents and they play games in the garden. Everyone sings Happy Birthday, the child makes a wish and blows out the candles. They receive a book and a toy car as gifts.
Christmas Morning
Six-year-old Tom wakes up early on Christmas morning to find snow outside and presents under the tree. He opens his gifts, including a red toy car, and enjoys a special breakfast with his family. When grandma and grandpa arrive, it becomes the best day of the year.
Baking a Cake
Anna and her mother bake a cake together on Sunday. They mix flour, sugar, eggs, and butter in a big bowl. After putting the cake in the oven for thirty minutes, it comes out golden brown. Anna adds chocolate on top, and they both agree the cake is delicious.
Cooking Dinner
Dad and Mia cook dinner together on a Saturday evening. They make pasta with tomatoes, peppers, and cheese. Mia learns to cut vegetables carefully while Dad explains each step. When the meal is ready, the whole family enjoys it together.
Making Pizza
Tom decides to make pizza at home. He prepares the dough with flour, water, and yeast, then shapes it and adds tomato sauce, lots of cheese, and vegetables. After baking it in the hot oven for fifteen minutes, he enjoys his delicious homemade pizza.
Two Friends Planning
Maria calls her friend Julia to make weekend plans. They decide to go to the cinema to see a new comedy and have dinner at an Italian restaurant before the movie. They agree to meet at four thirty at the bus stop near Julia's house on Saturday.
Customer and Waiter
A man visits a restaurant and orders dinner. The waiter brings him the menu, takes his order for soup, fish with rice, and water. The man enjoys his meal and pays the bill, complimenting the excellent food.
Movie Night
Emma invites her friend Tom over for movie night on Friday. Tom brings popcorn and candy. They choose an action movie about a hero who saves the city. They enjoy watching the exciting movie together and plan to do it again next week.
At the Restaurant
Anna and Tom visit a restaurant for dinner. They order pizza, pasta, and drinks from the waiter. After enjoying their meal and dessert, they pay the bill and leave a tip.
Visiting the Doctor
Anna feels unwell with a headache and sore throat. She visits the doctor, who examines her and diagnoses a cold. The doctor gives her a prescription and advises rest.
Hotel Check-In
Tom arrives at a hotel after a long journey. He checks in at the reception, gets his room key, and learns about breakfast and wifi. He finds his clean, comfortable room on the third floor.
At the Post Office
Tom visits the post office to send a package to his grandmother in Germany. He waits in line, weighs the package, and fills out a form. The friendly postal worker explains the cost and delivery time. Tom pays with his card and receives a tracking number to follow his package online.
At the Supermarket
Lisa goes to the supermarket to buy food for the week. She takes a cart and visits different sections: fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, and grocery aisles. She picks fresh produce, bread, milk, eggs, chicken, fish, pasta, rice, coffee, and tea. After checking her list, she pays at the checkout and leaves happy with her quick shopping trip.
At the Pharmacy
Tom has a cold and visits his local pharmacy for medicine. The friendly pharmacist helps him choose cold medicine and cherry-flavored cough drops. She explains how to take the medicine and Tom goes home to rest.
The Ugly Duckling
A young duckling is different from his siblings. The other ducks call him ugly and he runs away. After a hard winter, he discovers he is actually a beautiful swan.
Little Red Riding Hood
A little girl in a red hood visits her sick grandmother. A wolf tricks her and eats the grandmother. A brave hunter saves them both and they all live happily.
The Three Little Pigs
Three pig brothers build houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. A big bad wolf blows down the first two houses, but cannot destroy the brick house. The pigs learn that hard work pays off.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
A curious girl named Goldilocks enters the home of three bears while they are away. She tries their porridge, chairs, and beds, finding Baby Bear's things just right. When the bears return and find her, she runs away frightened.
The Tortoise and the Hare
A proud hare challenges a slow tortoise to a race, confident of an easy victory. The hare runs far ahead and decides to take a nap, while the tortoise keeps moving steadily. The hare wakes up too late and watches the tortoise win, learning that patience and persistence beat overconfidence.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Peter, a shepherd boy, gets bored watching sheep and tricks the villagers by crying 'Wolf!' twice. They come running but find no wolf, making them angry. When a real wolf appears, no one believes Peter's cries for help. He learns that liars are not believed even when they tell the truth.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
During summer, an ant works hard collecting food for winter while a grasshopper plays and sings. When winter arrives, the ant is warm with plenty of food, but the hungry grasshopper has nothing. He learns that it is important to work hard and prepare for the future.
The Lion and the Mouse
A small mouse accidentally wakes a lion, who catches her. She promises to help him someday if he lets her go. The lion laughs but frees her. Later, hunters trap the lion in a net. The mouse returns, gnaws through the ropes, and saves him. They become friends, proving that even the smallest can help the mightiest.
The Fox and the Grapes
A hungry fox sees delicious grapes hanging high on a vine. He jumps many times trying to reach them, but they are too high. Tired and unable to get the grapes, the fox decides they must be sour anyway and walks away. This fable teaches us that people often pretend not to want what they cannot have.
The Princess and the Pea
A prince searches the world for a real princess to marry but cannot find one. One stormy night, a young woman arrives at the castle claiming to be a princess. The queen tests her by placing a tiny pea under twenty mattresses. The princess sleeps badly because she feels the pea, proving she is a real princess. The prince finally finds his bride.
Morning Exercise
Anna wakes up early every morning to exercise in the park. She runs, stretches, and enjoys the fresh air. After her workout, she takes a shower and eats a healthy breakfast. Morning exercise helps her feel happy and sleep better.
Catching a Cold
Max wakes up feeling sick with a runny nose, sore throat, and fever. He stays home from school and his mother takes care of him. She gives him tea with honey, tissues, and chicken soup. Max rests, watches cartoons, and sleeps. After three days, he feels much better and is happy to go back to school.
The Wrong Bus
Tom wants to go to the library but gets on the wrong bus. A kind woman tells him he is going to the park instead. She advises him to get off at the next stop and take bus number five. Tom learns an important lesson: always check the bus number first.
The Wrong Word
Anna is learning a new language. At a cafe, she accidentally asks for a horse instead of coffee. The waiter helps her, and they both laugh. Anna learns that mistakes help us remember.
The Missing Key
Sophie comes home from school and cannot find her key. She checks her bag and pockets but the key is missing. She remembers having lunch in the park and runs there to look. When she cannot find the key, she walks home sadly. Her neighbor calls out to her - she found Sophie's key on the street this morning!
The Wrong Number
Lisa receives phone calls from a stranger looking for someone named Maria. Despite telling them it is the wrong number, she wonders who Maria is and why someone needs her. It remains a small mystery in her quiet evening.
The Zoo Visit
Emma and her family spend a sunny day at the zoo. They see elephants with long trunks, funny monkeys jumping in trees, a sleeping lion, tall giraffes, and penguins that walk in a funny way. Emma takes photos and enjoys lunch by the lake. At the end of the day, Emma says it was the best day ever.
The Forest Walk
A family goes for a walk in the forest on a sunny autumn day. Little Leo discovers colorful leaves, hears birds singing, and sees a squirrel. They find a cold stream, rest on a rock, and enjoy sandwiches while admiring nature.
Summer Heat
Maria spends a hot July day wisely. In the cool morning, she reads in the shaded park, listening to birds and watching butterflies. At noon, she returns home for cold food and rest. When evening brings cooler air, she enjoys the garden with her family.
My New Puppy
Emma gets a new puppy named Max. The small brown puppy is very happy in his new home. Emma gives him water and food, then they play with a red ball in the garden. After playing, Max is tired and falls asleep on his soft bed. Emma loves her new puppy very much.
The Goldfish
Mia receives a goldfish named Sunny for her sixth birthday. She takes care of her new pet every day, feeding it and talking to it. Mia believes Sunny recognizes her voice and considers the fish her best friend.
My Best Friend
Anna talks about her best friend Leo who lives on the same street. They go to school together, play football in the park, and enjoy video games on Saturdays. Leo is funny, smart, and always helps Anna with homework. For his birthday, Anna gives him a football, and Leo tells her she is the best friend.
Meeting the Neighbors
Maria moves to a new house and meets her neighbor Sara. Sara welcomes her with homemade cookies and tells her about the neighborhood. They have coffee together and discover their children are close in age. Maria is happy to have found a new friend.
First Day of School
Leo is nervous about his first day at a new school, but his mother reassures him. At school, the teacher welcomes him and he sits next to a friendly boy named Tom. They talk about games and play together at break time. At the end of the day, Leo tells his father it was great and that he made a new friend.
The Math Test
Tom is worried about his math test. His mother helps him study at home. The next day, Tom takes the test and knows the answers because he studied hard.
Playing Football
On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Max and his five friends meet at the park to play football. They form two teams of three and play an exciting game. The final score is three to three. Everyone is tired but happy, and they agree to play again next week.
Swimming Lessons
Seven-year-old Emma goes to her first swimming lesson. With the help of teacher Anna, she learns to put her face in the water, kick her legs, and float on her back. By the end, Emma loves swimming and looks forward to more lessons.
The Video Call
Mia misses her grandma who lives far away. Her mom helps her make a video call using a tablet. Grandma's face appears on the screen and they are both happy to see each other. Mia shows her new toy and Grandma shows her cat. They talk for thirty minutes and say 'I love you' before ending the call.
Beach Vacation
The Müller family spends a beautiful day at the beach. Mom brings towels, Dad brings the umbrella, and the children bring their toys. The children Anna and Tom swim in the waves and build a big sandcastle. They eat sandwiches and fruit for lunch. As the sun sets, they go home, and Tom says it was the best day ever.
The Coffee Break
An office worker takes a morning coffee break, meets a colleague in the break room, and they chat about their weekends before returning to work feeling refreshed.
Calling in Sick
Tom wakes up on Monday feeling sick with a fever and sore throat. He calls his boss to say he cannot come to work. His boss tells him to rest and drink water. After two days of rest, Tom feels better and returns to work on Wednesday.