What do those language levels mean?

The European levels (A1 to C2) give a reliable picture of general language proficiency, from simple conversations (A2) through independent functioning (B1/B2) to near-native level (C1/C2). But in the workplace language is judged along two other axes: the informal, idiomatic register of the coffee machine, and the specialist language of the profession. That is where the misunderstandings arise. Someone who falters in small talk is soon underestimated professionally as well, and conversely, someone with excellent general Dutch may still fall short on professional vocabulary. The entry level above is therefore a point of orientation, not a verdict: the intake maps out what is needed on which axis.