Hoi! After learning some essential Dutch phrases, one of the most practical next steps is learning to count. Numbers are everywhere: in prices, phone numbers, addresses, and telling time. Being able to understand and say numbers in Dutch is a fundamental skill that you will use every single day. The good news is that the Dutch numbering system is very similar to English, with one famous (or infamous) twist that we will cover in detail.
This guide will teach you how to count from 0 to 100 and beyond. We will cover the basic numbers, the tens, and the unique way the Dutch combine them. We will also touch on ordinal numbers (first, second, third). Let's count on it! 😉
Numbers 0-20
The first 20 numbers are the foundation. You need to memorize these by heart, as they form the basis for everything else. Many are very similar to English.
| Number | Dutch | Number | Dutch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | nul | 11 | elf |
| 1 | één | 12 | twaalf |
| 2 | twee | 13 | dertien |
| 3 | drie | 14 | veertien |
| 4 | vier | 15 | vijftien |
| 5 | vijf | 16 | zestien |
| 6 | zes | 17 | zeventien |
| 7 | zeven | 18 | achttien |
| 8 | acht | 19 | negentien |
| 9 | negen | 20 | twintig |
| 10 | tien |
The Tens (20-100)
The tens are also quite regular. They are mostly formed by taking the base number and adding -tig.
| Number | Dutch |
|---|---|
| 20 | twintig |
| 30 | dertig |
| 40 | veertig |
| 50 | vijftig |
| 60 | zestig |
| 70 | zeventig |
| 80 | tachtig |
| 90 | negentig |
| 100 | honderd |
The Famous Dutch Twist: Numbers 21-99
Here it is! This is the part that often confuses beginners. For numbers between 21 and 99, the Dutch say the units before the tens. It's the reverse of English. Instead of "twenty-one," they say "one-and-twenty."
21 = één + en + twintig → éénentwintig (one-and-twenty)
45 = vijf + en + veertig → vijfenveertig (five-and-forty)
99 = negen + en + negentig → negenennegentig (nine-and-ninety)
This takes some getting used to! Your brain is wired to hear the tens first. The best way to master this is to practice saying them out loud. Let's try a few:
- 23: drieëntwintig
- 38: achtendertig
- 56: zesenvijftig
- 81: éénentachtig
Hundreds and Thousands
Once you get past 100, the system becomes logical again, just like in English.
- 100: honderd
- 101: honderdéén
- 125: honderdvijfentwintig (hundred-five-and-twenty)
- 200: tweehonderd
- 1000: duizend
- 1500: vijftienhonderd (fifteen-hundred) OR duizend vijfhonderd
- 2024: tweeduizend vierentwintig
- 1,000,000: één miljoen
Ordinal Numbers (First, Second, Third...)
Ordinal numbers indicate position or order. In Dutch, they are mostly formed by adding -de or -ste to the cardinal number.
The First Few are Irregular:
- 1st: eerste
- 2nd: tweede
- 3rd: derde
The General Rule: Add -de or -ste
From 4 to 19, you add -de or -ste.
- 4th: vierde
- 5th: vijfde
- 8th: achtste (add -ste after a -t sound)
- 20th: twintigste
For numbers above 20, the ending is always -ste.
- 21st: éénentwintigste
- 100th: honderdste
🧠 Number Quiz
Write out the following numbers in Dutch.
1. 42
2. 77
3. 9th
Conclusion
Goed zo! You can now count in Dutch. You've learned the numbers from 0 to 100, tackled the tricky "unit-first" rule for numbers 21-99, and can even form ordinal numbers. The key to making the number-switching feel natural is practice. Try to read out prices when you see them online, say phone numbers in Dutch, or count objects around you. The more you force your brain to think "one-and-twenty," the faster it will become second nature. You have unlocked a very practical and essential part of the Dutch language! 🎉