Chapter 20: Dutch Numbers 0-100

Introduction: Counting in Dutch

Numbers are essential for everyday tasks like telling time, talking about age, shopping, and more. This chapter covers the Dutch numbers from zero to one hundred.

Numbers 0-12

These basic numbers have unique names and must be memorized:

0 = nul
1 = een (pronounced /ən/ like the article, or één /eːn/ for emphasis)
2 = twee
3 = drie
4 = vier
5 = vijf
6 = zes
7 = zeven
8 = acht
9 = negen
10 = tien
11 = elf
12 = twaalf

Numbers 13-19

These numbers are formed by taking the unit (3-9) and adding -tien (ten). Notice some minor spelling changes:

13 = dertien (from drie)
14 = veertien (from vier)
15 = vijftien (from vijf)
16 = zestien (from zes)
17 = zeventien (from zeven)
18 = achttien (from acht)
19 = negentien (from negen)

The Tens (20, 30, ... 100)

These also need to be learned:

20 = twintig
30 = dertig
40 = veertig
50 = vijftig
60 = zestig
70 = zeventig
80 = tachtig (Note the t before achtig)
90 = negentig
100 = honderd

Numbers 21-99: Unit + en + Ten

This is the part that often confuses English speakers. Dutch forms compound numbers between 21 and 99 by saying the unit first, then en (and), then the ten.

Formula: Unit + en + Ten

21 = eenentwintig (one-and-twenty)
22 = tweeëntwintig (two-and-twenty) - Note the diaeresis (trema) on the e of twee to keep vowels separate.
23 = drieëntwintig (three-and-twenty) - Trema needed.
24 = vierentwintig (four-and-twenty)
25 = vijfentwintig (five-and-twenty)
36 = zesendertig (six-and-thirty)
47 = zevenenveertig (seven-and-forty)
58 = achtenvijftig (eight-and-fifty)
69 = negenenzestig (nine-and-sixty)
71 = eenenzeventig (one-and-seventy)
82 = tweeëntachtig (two-and-eighty)
93 = drieënnegentig (three-and-ninety)
99 = negenennegentig (nine-and-ninety)

Writing Note: Compound numbers up to duizend (thousand) are typically written as one word in Dutch.

Examples in Context

Ik heb drie katten. (I have three cats.)
De bus komt om elf uur. (The bus comes at eleven o'clock.)
Zij is tweeëndertig jaar oud. (She is thirty-two years old.)
Dit kost vijfenzeventig euro. (This costs seventy-five euros.)
Er zijn zestien studenten in de klas. (There are sixteen students in the class.)

Dutch numbers require memorizing 0-12 and the tens. The numbers 13-19 follow a pattern (unit + tien). The key challenge is the 21-99 range, where the order is reversed compared to English: Unit + en + Ten. Practice saying these compound numbers aloud!