First things first: Dutch vs Flemish
Some online websites or tools are developed in the Netherlands. It might be that the pronunciation is somewhat different than what you hear in Flanders. Some expressions and words are also less frequently used, or have a slightly different meaning in Flanders than in the Netherlands and vice versa. So while tools from the Netherlands can be super useful, don't be surprised if not everything translates to daily life in Leuven! :)
Getting started
Online classes
Many of the language schools in Leuven offer fully online classes.
Nedbox(link is external),
an online tool to practice Dutch and learn about Belgium and Flanders at the same time
First Aid Communication Tool (FACT)(link is external)
is a free app with helpful vocab to get started with basic vocab (e.g. cleaning, restaurants etc)
Practicing
Lees Simpel
An app for iPhone or Android that allows you to scan texts (like formal letters) and gives you a simplified version in Dutch
Writing aid for Dutch learners(link is external)
which helps to detect language and grammar errors
Resource for pronunciation practice(link is external)
Free learning platforms
Translation tools
There are plenty of translation tools to try, our community has recommended these ones: