Ordinal numbers (rangtelwoorden) indicate position or order in a sequence (first, second, third, etc.).

Formation Rules:

1. General Rule: Add -de to the cardinal number (the regular number).

• twee (2) -> tweede (second)
• vier (4) -> vierde (fourth)
• vijf (5) -> vijfde (fifth)
• zes (6) -> zesde (sixth)
• zeven (7) -> zevende (seventh)
• negen (9) -> negende (ninth)
• tien (10) -> tiende (tenth)
• elf (11) -> elfde (eleventh)
• twaalf (12) -> twaalfde (twelfth)
• dertien (13) -> dertiende (thirteenth)
• ... (through 19)

1. Exceptions:

• een (1) -> eerste (first)
• drie (3) -> derde (third)
• acht (8) -> achtste (eighth) - Adds -ste instead of -de because it ends in t.

1. Numbers ending in -tig (20, 30, 40, etc.): Add -ste.

• twintig (20) -> twintigste (twentieth)
• dertig (30) -> dertigste (thirtieth)
• veertig (40) -> veertigste (fortieth)
• ... negentig (90) -> negentigste (ninetieth)

1. Compound Numbers (21, 22, etc.): Only the last part of the number becomes ordinal.

• eenentwintig (21) -> eenentwintigste (twenty-first) - uses ste because een becomes eerste.
• tweeëntwintig (22) -> tweeëntwintigde (twenty-second)
• drieëntwintig (23) -> drieëntwintigste (twenty-third) - uses ste because drie becomes derde (though derde itself ends in de, the compound form takes ste). This is a slight inconsistency, often simplified to just using ste for 21st and 23rd.
• vierentwintig (24) -> vierentwintigste (twenty-fourth)
• ... (most use -ste after 20, except those ending in 2, like 22nd, 32nd, etc.)
• honderd (100) -> honderdste (hundredth)
• duizend (1000) -> duizendste (thousandth)
• honderd(en)een (101) -> honderd(en)eerste (hundred-and-first)
• honderdtwee (102) -> honderdtweede (hundred-and-second)

Usage:

• Ordinal numbers often behave like adjectives and may take an -e ending when preceding a noun.
• De tweede deur links. (The second door on the left.)
• Dit is mijn derde poging. (This is my third attempt.)
• De eerste keer. (The first time.)
• Used for dates: de eerste mei (the first of May), de vijfde verdieping (the fifth floor).
• Used for rankings: Hij was de eerste. (He was the first.)

Abbreviation: Ordinal numbers can be abbreviated using the number followed by e or ste/de. For example, 1e, 2e/2de, 3e/3de, 8ste, 20ste.