Numbers, Time, and Dates in Dutch

In daily life in the Netherlands, you constantly use numbers, times, and dates. Whether you're making an appointment, doing groceries, or planning your trip, it's important to master these topics in Dutch.

This guide helps you step by step. You'll learn the basic rules, get plenty of example sentences, and discover how to practice for the civic integration exam or the State Exam NT2.

Numbers in Dutch: from 0 to 1 billion

Dutch numbers follow a logical system, but there are a few exceptions. You need to memorize the numbers 0 to 12: nul, een, twee, drie, vier, vijf, zes, zeven, acht, negen, tien, elf, twaalf.

From 13 onward, it's easy: you say the unit plus 'tien': dertien, veertien, vijftien, zestien, zeventien, achttien, negentien. The tens are: twintig, dertig, veertig, vijftig, zestig, zeventig, tachtig, negentig. Hundred is 'honderd', thousand is 'duizend', and million is 'miljoen'.

Example sentences with numbers

I live at number 23.
The train leaves at 14:30.
It costs €45.95.
My phone number is 06-12345678.

Telling time: how to say what time it is

In the Netherlands, we use both the 12-hour and 24-hour notation. In formal situations (like train schedules), you use 24 hours. In conversations, 12 hours is common.

You say the minutes first, then the hour. For example: 8:15 is 'vijf over acht', 8:30 is 'half negen', 8:45 is 'kwart voor negen'. Note: 'half negen' means 8:30, not 9:30!

For digital times, you just say the numbers: 'veertien uur dertig' or 'twee uur dertig'.

Common mistakes with time and date

Confusion between 'half negen' (8:30) and 'half tien' (9:30).
Writing dates: in the Netherlands, the order is day-month-year, so 5-3-2024 is March 5, not May 3.
Capital letters for months? No, months are written in lowercase: januari, februari, etc.

Writing and pronouncing dates correctly

A date is written as: 5 maart 2024. You say: 'vijf maart tweeduizendvierentwintig'. Or shorter: 'vijf maart 2024'. Note: the year is pronounced as 'tweeduizendvierentwintig' or 'twintigvierentwintig'.

For centuries, you use the ordinal number: the 21st century is pronounced as 'eenentwintigste eeuw'. For dates, you also use ordinal numbers: 1e, 2e, 3e, etc., but in spoken language often 'eerste', 'tweede', 'derde'.

How to practice this in Dutch

Want to practice these topics for the civic integration exam? In the Dutch Fluency NT2 app, you'll find interactive exercises on numbers, time, and date. Practice listening, speaking, and writing. Click the link below to get started right away.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I say 13:45 in Dutch?

That's 'kwart voor twee' (informal) or 'dertien uur vijfenveertig' (formal).

What's the difference between 'half twee' and 'half drie'?

'Half twee' is 13:30, 'half drie' is 14:30. Remember: half + the next hour.

How do I ask for the date?

You ask: 'Welke datum is het vandaag?' or 'De hoeveelste is het vandaag?'

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