Taaly: a digital platform for civic integration and participation

Taaly is the digital integration assistant for newcomers in the Netherlands: one app to practice Dutch with an AI language coach and volunteer taalcoaches, find local activities and search for jobs. Municipalities use the same app to register participation hours.

Why language and participation go together

Since the Wet inburgering 2021 (Civic Integration Act), the municipality guides newcomers with a personal Plan Inburgering en Participatie (PIP), as the Dutch government explains. Learning the language and taking part in society run through that plan together. In the Z-route, for example, a participant completes at least 800 hours of participation next to language classes, according to the DUO conditions.

Taaly is built around that combination. Integration starts with language and succeeds with work, and taking part in your own neighborhood sits in between.

Language learning and integration

Taaly gives newcomers three ways to practice Dutch. You can combine them at your own pace.

Practice with the AI language coach

The AI language coach is available 24 hours a day. You practice speaking whenever it suits you, even while you wait for a place in a language course.

Talk with a volunteer taalcoach

The app matches you with a volunteer taalcoach who is online right away. If nobody is online, you book a conversation with a coach who has time later, or practice with the AI coach. You talk about everyday things, like groceries, work, family or food.

Weekly live lessons

Next to the conversations there are weekly live lessons with certified NT2 teachers. NT2 means Dutch as a second language.

Taking part in your own municipality

With Taaly Meedoen you find activities, workshops and trainings in your own municipality, close to home: a language café, walking, sports or volunteering. You practice Dutch for real and meet new people. Read more in Learning Dutch and building a local network.

Local organizations, such as welfare organizations and libraries, can list their activities in Taaly Meedoen. Newcomers then sign up with the organization directly.

Towards work

Taaly Jobs shows real vacancies from employers open to newcomers, across the Netherlands and closest first. You apply directly through the vacancy, or through Taaly: the Taaly recruiter asks you a few questions in simple language and a Taaly team member works with you on the next step. Nothing goes to an employer without your consent.

Participation hours and municipal administration

For municipalities, Taaly registers participants' participation hours. Participants scan a QR code at the activity or add hours in the app, and their supervisor approves them with one click. The municipality sees progress per participant, route and chain organization in real time in the dashboard, instead of reports afterwards.

Reports can be filtered per region and exported as CSV, Excel or PDF. Taaly follows the GDPR, the BIO and the VNG guidelines, with a data processing agreement and a DPIA. Read how to set one up in Tracking civic integration progress with a municipal dashboard.

Taaly in numbers

• 30,000+ learners and 4,200+ taalcoaches
• 45,000+ conversations
• 18 municipalities under contract, 12 of which register hours via Taaly
• 79% say they speak better Dutch thanks to Taaly; results externally validated with the OpenEmbassy Integratie Impact Framework

Newcomers can, for example, register through COA; their access is sponsored, so they pay nothing themselves. The Municipality of The Hague offers Taaly to its residents.

Download Taaly and start practicing today.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main steps to get started as a newcomer in the Netherlands?

Start with the language, connect with people nearby and work step by step towards a job. With Taaly you practice Dutch with an AI coach and volunteer taalcoaches, find activities through Taaly Meedoen and search for vacancies in Taaly Jobs.

How does Taaly help with civic integration and participation?

You practice Dutch whenever it suits you and find activities in your own municipality. If your municipality works with Taaly, you register participation hours with a QR code and your supervisor approves them.

What does Taaly cost?

You start for free: 2 practice hours, plus activities and vacancies. Premium costs 10 euro per month, or your municipality sponsors your access.

How do I become a volunteer taalcoach?

Download the app and sign up as a taalcoach. You need no diploma, and taalcoaches never pay. More on the Become a taalcoach page.