Dutch Numbers 1 to 100
Dutch numbers are straightforward for single digits but throw a curveball from 21 onward: the ones digit comes before the tens, just like in German. “Twenty-one” becomes eenentwintig — literally “one-and-twenty.” Once you get used to this reversal, Dutch numbers become very predictable. Here is everything from een to honderd.
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Numbers 1 to 10
The building blocks are simple and mostly recognizable to English speakers, thanks to the shared Germanic roots.
Many Dutch numbers are clearly related to their English cousins: twee/two, drie/three, vier/four, zes/six, zeven/seven, tien/ten. The shared Germanic roots make these easier to remember than you might expect.
Numbers 11 to 20
The teens follow a pattern similar to English, with the unit before “-tien” (ten).
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The Tens: 20 to 100
From 20 onward, Dutch numbers follow the reversed digit pattern. The ones come first, connected by en (“and”), then the tens.
Compound Numbers: The Reversal
Here is where Dutch (like German) differs from English. The ones digit is said first:
- 21 = eenentwintig (one-and-twenty)
- 35 = vijfendertig (five-and-thirty)
- 48 = achtenveertig (eight-and-forty)
- 63 = drieenzestig (three-and-sixty)
- 99 = negenennegentig (nine-and-ninety)
The reversal can trip you up with prices and addresses. When you hear drieenvijftig, train yourself to think: "three-and-fifty = 53." Write it down in digits until the reversal becomes automatic. It takes most learners a few weeks of practice.
Useful Number Phrases
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Dutch numbers reversed?
Dutch compound numbers put the ones digit before the tens: eenentwintig (one-and-twenty) for 21. This is the same pattern as German (einundzwanzig). It comes from an older Germanic number system. English used to work this way too (“four-and-twenty blackbirds”).
Is the Dutch number system the same as German?
Very similar. Both reverse the digits (ones before tens) and both use "and" as a connector. The main differences are in pronunciation and spelling: Dutch twintig vs German zwanzig, Dutch vijf vs German fünf.
How do Dutch people say phone numbers?
Phone numbers are usually read digit by digit, but the Dutch often group pairs: 06-12-34-56-78 would be "nul zes, twaalf, vierendertig, zesenvijftig, achtenzeventig." Area codes are read as individual digits.
What is the difference between een and één?
Een (without accent) means "a/an" (the indefinite article). Één (with accents) means "one" (the number). In speech, the number is stressed: ÉÉN koffie, alstublieft (ONE coffee, please) vs een koffie (a coffee).