Chinese lesson prices in Amsterdam: what lessons cost and what you get
The Chinese lessons price at KeSong in Amsterdam and online is simple: €60 per hour for one-to-one lessons with Zoey. Group-course fees depend on the number of learners and are confirmed after a placement assessment. There is no online payment: times, format and payment are arranged personally after your enquiry.
By Zoey (Ziqiao Zang), Chinese teacher since 2011
Prices at a glance
How much do Chinese lessons cost at KeSong? Here is the complete overview.
| Format | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one lessons, online | €60 per hour | Main format, any level, any goal |
| One-to-one lessons, in person in Amsterdam | €60 per hour | By arrangement |
| Small groups | Confirmed after a placement assessment | Depends on the number of learners |
| In-company training | Quote after intake | Programme designed with your team |
| Culture workshops | Quote after a short conversation | Depends on theme, length, group size and materials |
Payment is arranged directly with Zoey after your enquiry. Nothing is paid online.
What is included in €60 per hour
An hour of lessons is more than sixty minutes of talking. With every lesson you get:
- Preparation: each lesson is planned for you, based on your goals and your last lesson.
- Materials: lesson slides, word lists, short texts and listening exercises, digitally.
- A personal plan: what you will learn and in what order, adjusted as you progress.
- Placement and progress reviews: a level check at the start (for learners with previous Chinese) and regular reviews of what you can now do.
- Feedback on homework between lessons.
- Exam expertise for HSK candidates: mock tests and strategy from a teacher who set up and ran an official HSK online test centre.
Why €60, when marketplace tutors charge €15–35?
On marketplaces such as Superprof, Preply or italki, Chinese tutors advertise from about €5 to €35 an hour; Superprof alone lists dozens of tutors in Amsterdam from around €15. Some of them are good teachers. When you compare the Chinese tutor price, the difference with KeSong is in what stands behind each hour:
| Typical marketplace tutor | KeSong | |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher training | Varies, often none | Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages |
| Experience | Varies | Teaching since 2011, in the Netherlands since 2016 |
| Lesson plan | Often improvised | Personal plan with milestones |
| Materials | Often your own | Prepared for your goal |
| HSK knowledge | Varies | Set up and managed an official HSK online test centre |
| Time behind each hour | The hour itself | The hour, plus preparation and feedback |
The fairest comparison is price per result: how many hours, and therefore euros, you need to reach your goal. A structured plan with a qualified teacher usually gets you there in fewer hours. Read more on private lessons.
How much does it cost to learn Chinese? A realistic budget
The table below combines realistic lesson hours with the one-to-one rate. Self-study is not included in the price but is part of the plan; small groups or fewer lessons with more self-study lower the cost.
| Goal | Lesson hours with a teacher (cumulative) | One-to-one cost (€60/h) | Time at 2 lessons/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survival phrases for a trip | 8–12 | €480–720 | 1–1.5 months |
| HSK 1 | 30–40 | €1,800–2,400 | 2–4 months |
| HSK 2 | 60–90 | €3,600–5,400 | 6–9 months |
| HSK 3 | 120–180 | €7,200–10,800 | 1–1.5 years |
| HSK 4 | 240–360 | €14,400–21,600 | 2–3 years |
Many learners don’t need all lessons one-to-one. A common pattern is one-to-one lessons in the first months to get pronunciation right, then fewer lessons with more self-study, or a small group. Zoey will suggest the most efficient mix for your goal and budget. For the study hours behind these numbers, see how long it takes to learn Chinese.
Group lessons
Small groups make lessons more affordable per person and add the energy of learning together. Because groups work best when everyone is at a similar level, fees are confirmed after a placement assessment, depending on the number of learners. If you want to learn with a friend, partner or colleagues, mention it in your enquiry.
How it works
- Send an enquiry with your goals, level and preferred times.
- Intake: Zoey replies personally; learners with previous Chinese do a short placement assessment.
- Proposal: format, schedule and plan, with the price.
- Start: payment and times are agreed directly; nothing is paid on this site.
All courses
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Beginners
Start from zero: pinyin, tones, your first characters and real conversations.
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Private lessons
A personal plan, your pace, your goals. In Amsterdam or online.
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Online lessons
Live one-to-one or small-group lessons on Zoom, from anywhere.
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HSK preparation
Targeted preparation for HSK 1–6 and HSKK, including the new HSK 3.0.
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Business Chinese
For professionals and teams working with Chinese partners. In-company or online.
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Conversation classes
Speaking practice for learners who understand more than they dare to say.
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Culture workshops
Calligraphy, Chinese New Year and paper-cutting workshops for teams and organisations.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Mandarin lessons?
At KeSong, one-to-one Mandarin lessons cost €60 per hour, online or in person in Amsterdam by arrangement. Small-group fees depend on the number of learners and are confirmed after a placement assessment. On marketplaces you will find tutors from about €15 to €35 per hour, and group courses in Amsterdam from a few hundred euros per term.
How much does it cost to learn Chinese?
It depends on your goal and how you learn. Reaching HSK 1 typically takes 30–40 lesson hours with a teacher plus self-study; HSK 2 about 60–90 lesson hours in total. In one-to-one lessons at €60 per hour that is roughly €1,800–2,400 for HSK 1. Small groups, fewer lessons with more self-study, and free resources lower the cost.
Do you offer a free trial lesson?
Every new learner starts with an enquiry and an intake: Zoey replies personally, discusses your goals and, if you have studied before, does a short placement assessment, so you know what to expect before lessons start. Ask in your enquiry about the options for a first lesson.
How do I pay?
Not through this website. After your enquiry you agree the format, schedule and payment directly with Zoey. The site never asks for payment details.
Are exam fees included?
No. HSK exam fees are paid separately to the test centre. In the Netherlands they range from about €25 for HSK 1 to €147 for HSK 6 with HSKK in 2026. See the HSK exam guide for the current fees per level.
Learn with Zoey
One-to-one or in a small group, online or in Amsterdam by arrangement. Tell Zoey what you want to achieve and she will suggest a plan.
About the author
Zoey (Ziqiao Zang, 臧子乔) has taught Chinese as a foreign language since 2011 and in the Netherlands since 2016. She holds a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Zhejiang Normal University and set up and ran an official HSK online exam centre with more than 250 candidates.