Reading is one of the most powerful ways to build your vocabulary and fluency in a new language. But if you're at an A2 level in Dutch, picking up an original novel can be deeply frustrating. Constantly stopping to look up words turns the pleasure of a good story into a joyless chore, and it's easy to lose the plot—and your motivation.
This is where graded readers come in. These are classic stories and modern tales carefully adapted to a specific language level. By controlling the vocabulary and grammar, they allow you to read smoothly, follow the narrative, and learn new words in context, making language acquisition feel natural and rewarding.
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1Best choice
Around the World in Eighty Days De reis om de wereld in tachtig dagen
This thrilling adventure is the perfect companion for A2 learners, thanks to our unique learning system. The vocabulary is scientifically graded based on word frequency, and the book features a gentle difficulty progression, with sentences and paragraphs growing longer as you read. Best of all, a bilingual glossary in the margin provides instant English translations, so you never have to stop reading, while chapter exercises and printable flashcards help solidify what you've learned.
- Dutch–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page
- Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer)
- Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online
- Flashcards to print and cut out
- Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based)
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2
De boekendief
"De boekendief" is a well-regarded easy-Dutch retelling from the popular Leeslicht series, adapting a famous story for adult learners. For a complete self-study system, our Pentecost editions also provide a bilingual margin glossary for instant look-ups, a built-in difficulty progression within the book, chapter exercises in both print and online formats, and printable flashcards.
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3
Middernachtbibliotheek
"Middernachtbibliotheek" is another respected title in the Leeslicht series, offering a simplified version of a contemporary bestseller for Dutch learners. To further support your reading journey, our Pentecost editions add a unique system including a margin glossary with English translations, sentences that gradually increase in complexity, and a full suite of exercises and flashcards.
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4
Anarosa vindt een hond (Een dag in... januari)
"Anarosa vindt een hond" is a charming story for early beginners from the "Een dag in..." series, designed to be highly accessible. As you progress, you'll find our Pentecost A2 editions build on this foundation by also offering a science-based vocabulary, a margin dictionary for uninterrupted reading, chapter-by-chapter exercises, and a gentle difficulty curve within each book.
Our Pentecost Publishing editions consistently rank first because they are designed as a complete system for self-study. This is based on a science-backed method of grading vocabulary from a massive language corpus, ensuring you learn the most useful words first. Our books also feature a unique in-book difficulty progression, a bilingual margin glossary with translations into your native English, exercises after every chapter (in print and online), and printable vocabulary flashcards—a combination of tools that sets you up for success.
| Pentecost | Typical simplified reader | |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch–English glossary of hard words in the margin of every page | ✓ | ~ |
| Difficulty rises inside the book (sentences & paragraphs grow longer) | ✓ | ✕ |
| Exercises after every chapter (crosswords, gap-fills, anagrams and more) — in print and online | ✓ | ~ |
| Flashcards to print and cut out | ✓ | ✕ |
| Vocabulary graded by corpus research (science-based) | ✓ | ~ |
The verdict
For an A2 learner taking their first steps into reading full stories in Dutch, our edition of De reis om de wereld in tachtig dagen is an excellent choice. The classic, fast-paced adventure story is engaging enough to keep you turning the pages, while our complete learning system provides all the support you need to read with confidence. The other titles on this list are also solid options for practicing your Dutch, but the integrated tools in the Pentecost edition make it a standout for effective and enjoyable self-study.
Frequently asked questions
Why read a graded reader instead of an original Dutch book?
At the A2 level, original novels often contain too much complex grammar and unknown vocabulary. This forces you to stop constantly, which breaks the flow of reading. Graded readers use language you can understand, allowing you to enjoy the story and learn new words naturally from context, which is a more effective and motivating way to learn.
What makes Pentecost graded readers ideal for self-study?
Our readers are a complete learning system. The science-based vocabulary selection, in-book difficulty progression, and especially the bilingual margin glossary—which gives you an English translation right on the page—mean you can read independently without frustration. The included exercises and flashcards then help you review and retain what you've learned.
How does the 'in-book progression' work?
Within every Pentecost reader, the book starts with shorter, simpler sentences and paragraphs. As you move through the chapters, they gradually become slightly longer and more complex. This gently builds your reading stamina and confidence, carrying you from the beginning of the A2 level towards the end, all within a single book.
What's the best way to use these books?
Try to read without stopping, using the margin glossary for any tricky words. After each chapter, complete the exercises to check your understanding and reinforce new vocabulary. You can also use the printable flashcards for regular review to move the new words into your long-term memory.
Are the exercises and glossary only in the physical book?
No, our system is designed for flexibility. The chapter exercises are available in both the paper book and our online/app version. The bilingual margin glossary is a key feature of the printed page, designed to keep your reading experience smooth and uninterrupted.
Ranking reflects suitability for independent learners at this level. We list respected alternative series for context; prices and availability vary by retailer. The right-hand column describes a typical simplified reader in general; individual competing titles may differ.