How do Dutch numbers work after twenty?

From 21 onwards, Dutch says the unit before the ten, joined by 'en'. So 24 is 'vierentwintig' (literally four-and-twenty) and 67 is 'zevenenzestig'.

What does half tien mean in Dutch?

Half tien means 9:30, not 10:30. In Dutch, 'half' counts toward the next hour, so 'half tien' is literally halfway to ten, which is half past nine.

How do you ask the time in Dutch?

You ask 'Hoe laat is het?' (What time is it?). To say an exact time you use 'om', for example 'om negen uur' (at nine o'clock).

Learn › Numbers and time

Dutch numbers and telling the time

Numbers and time come up every day: prices, phone numbers, appointments, meetings. Two Dutch quirks catch everyone out, and we will tackle both.

Numbers 0 to 20

0 nul	1 een	2 twee	3 drie	4 vier
5 vijf	6 zes	7 zeven	8 acht	9 negen
10 tien	11 elf	12 twaalf	13 dertien	14 veertien
15 vijftien	16 zestien	17 zeventien	18 achttien	19 negentien

The quirk: units before tens

From 21 onwards, Dutch says the unit first, then the ten, joined by en. So 24 is literally “four-and-twenty”.

Number	Dutch
21	eenentwintig
24	vierentwintig
38	achtendertig
67	zevenenzestig

Tens: 20 twintig, 30 dertig, 40 veertig, 50 vijftig, 60 zestig, 70 zeventig, 80 tachtig, 90 negentig, 100 honderd, 1000 duizend.

Telling the time, and the half-hour trap

Ask the time with Hoe laat is het? For an exact time, use om: om negen uur (at nine).

The trap: in Dutch, half counts toward the next hour. half tien means 9:30, not 10:30, think “halfway to ten”.

Time	Dutch
9:00	negen uur
9:15	kwart over negen
9:30	half tien
9:45	kwart voor tien
14:00	twee uur ('s middags)

Prices and phone numbers

Say prices as euros then cents: twaalf euro vijftig for €12,50. Read phone numbers in small groups and confirm them back, since digits are easy to mishear.

Make it automatic

Numbers only stick with repetition. Say your own phone number, a few prices, and a meeting time out loud until they flow. We drill numbers and time in the A1 part of lessons and the student course.

Practise numbers, time and more

Lessons and the student A1-B1 course cover the practical Dutch you use every day.

Book a lesson → Find your level