Space for the structural use of music and poetry in the didactics of Dutch as a foreign language in Central Europe This paper deals with the potential of the systematic use of authentic texts presented via songs and poetry to the students of Dutch as a foreign language studying at universities in Central Europe. Based on the positive experience with these materials, which is believed to be relevant also to other foreign languages than Dutch, the article advocates a much broader and more intensive exploitation of such materials. This research combines literature study and examples of good practice observed at one of the universities in the Czech Republic offering a Dutch studies programme. Within the framework of the specific research questions, it also discusses the relevance of songs and poetry to foreign language teaching. Additionally, it provides a detailed overview of the elements concerning the systematic way of exploiting songs and poetry within a specific Dutch language course. ; Space for the structural use of music and poetry in the didactics of Dutch as a foreign language in Central Europe This paper deals with the potential of the systematic use of authentic texts presented via songs and poetry to the students of Dutch as a foreign language studying at universities in Central Europe. Based on the positive experience with these materials, which is believed to be relevant also to other foreign languages than Dutch, the article advocates a much broader and more intensive exploitation of such materials. This research combines literature study and examples of good practice observed at one of the universities in the Czech Republic offering a Dutch studies programme. Within the framework of the specific research questions, it also discusses the relevance of songs and poetry to foreign language teaching. Additionally, it provides a detailed overview of the elements concerning the systematic way of exploiting songs and poetry within a specific Dutch language course.