📚 Free Dutch Lesson

Dutch Numbers — Count from 0 to a Million

Learn to count in Dutch from 0 to 1,000,000: basic numbers, tens, compound numbers, ordinals, and useful phrases. With pronunciation and a 5-question quiz.

0–20basic numbers
21–99compound pattern
Ordinalsfirst, second…
5-Q Quiztest yourself

Numbers 0–20

These are the first numbers every Dutch learner needs. Learn them in order, then try to say them without looking.

NumberDutchPronunciation
0nulnul
1éénayn
2tweetvay
3driedree
4vierfeer
5vijffayf
6zeszes
7zevenzay-ven
8achtakht
9negennay-ghen
10tienteen
11elfelf
12twaalftvaalf
13dertiendair-teen
14veertienfair-teen
15vijftienfayf-teen
16zestienzes-teen
17zeventienzay-ven-teen
18achttienakh-teen
19negentiennay-ghen-teen
20twintigtvin-tikh
🔑 Pattern: 13–19 all end in -tien (like English -teen). Easy to remember!

Tens and Hundreds

NumberDutchPronunciation
30dertigdair-tikh
40veertigfair-tikh
50vijftigfayf-tikh
60zestigzes-tikh
70zeventigzay-ven-tikh
80tachtigtakh-tikh
90negentignay-ghen-tikh
100honderdhon-dert
1,000duizenddow-zent
1,000,000een miljoenmil-yoon
🔑 Pattern: The tens (30–90) all end in -tig (like English -ty). vijf → vijftig, zes → zestig.

Compound Numbers (21–99)

In Dutch, compound numbers are formed differently from English. You say the unit first, then en (and), then the ten.

21 = eenentwintig

"one-and-twenty" — not "twenty-one"

35 = vijfendertig

"five-and-thirty"

64 = vierenzestig

"four-and-sixty"

99 = negenennegentig

"nine-and-ninety"

💡 Tip: Think of it like old English "four-and-twenty blackbirds". The small number always comes first in Dutch.

Ordinal Numbers

DutchEnglish
eerstefirst (1st)
tweedesecond (2nd)
derdethird (3rd)
vierdefourth (4th)
vijfdefifth (5th)
tiendetenth (10th)
twintigstetwentieth (20th)

Useful Phrases with Numbers

Hoe oud ben je?

How old are you?

Ik ben vijfentwintig jaar oud.

I am 25 years old.

Het kost tien euro.

It costs 10 euros.

Ik woon op de derde verdieping.

I live on the third floor.

Mijn telefoonnummer is nul-zes-...

My phone number is 06-...

🧠

Quick quiz — Dutch Numbers

Q1: How do you say 'five' in Dutch?
Q2: What does 'twintig' mean in English?
Q3: How do you form 35 in Dutch?
Q4: What is 'honderd' in English?
Q5: Which number ends in -tig?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Dutch put the small number first in compound numbers?

This is a very old Germanic pattern, shared with German and older English ('four-and-twenty'). It is just the Dutch way — learn it as a rule and it becomes automatic quickly.

How do I say phone numbers in Dutch?

Dutch phone numbers are usually read digit by digit, or in pairs. For example, 06-12345678 is said as nul-zes, twaalf, vierendertig, achtenvijftig.

What is the difference between één and een?

Één (with accents) means the number 'one'. Een (no accents) is the indefinite article, meaning 'a' or 'an'. The accents exist precisely to avoid confusion.

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