The Nederlandse Lotto is the Netherlands' number lottery: you pick 6 numbers from 45, it is drawn once a week, and you win something with as few as 2 correct numbers. What makes it unusual is that almost every prize is a fixed amount; only the jackpot varies. This guide explains the rules, the reserve number, all nine prize tiers with exact odds and the history of the game. As of October 2026.
📋 Nederlandse Lotto at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | 6 from 45 + reserve number (from the same number pool) |
| Jackpot odds | 1 : 8,145,060 |
| Chance of any prize | about 1 : 5.7 (from 2 correct) |
| Ticket price | €2.00 per lot |
| Draw day | Saturday (1 draw per week) |
| Minimum jackpot | €1 million |
| Operator | Nederlandse Loterij (formed in 2016 from Staatsloterij and Lotto) |
| Current format since | 11 November 2017 |
Apart from the jackpot, all prizes are stated as fixed euro amounts. A prize in tiers 2 to 8 therefore does not have to be shared with other winners and does not depend on sales figures.
🎯 How the Nederlandse Lotto Works Step by Step
The rules
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 45.
- One lot costs €2.00; you can buy several lots and play several draws in advance (subscription).
- On Saturday 6 winning numbers and an additional reserve number are drawn.
- Depending on how many numbers you match, and whether the reserve number fits, you land in one of nine prize tiers.
- Even 2 correct numbers earn a free lot.
🔑 The Special Features in Detail
🎯 The reserve number
After the six winning numbers, a seventh number is drawn from the remaining 39 balls: the reserve number. It does not count as a main match but lifts your tier if you have 5, 4, 3 or 2 winning numbers plus the reserve number. With 5 correct plus the reserve number you win €100,000; without it, €1,000.
📜 From the colour jackpot to today's system
Until November 2017 the jackpot tier required 6 correct numbers plus one of six Lotto colours, which put the jackpot odds at about 1 : 48.9 million. After a price rise to €2 in early 2014 participation fell, and between January 2014 and November 2017 the jackpot was won only 4 times in around 250 draws. With the reform of 11 November 2017 the colour was dropped and the jackpot odds became six times better. According to an analysis by the mathematician Henk Tijms, the jackpot then fell 6 times in 74 draws between November 2017 and January 2019.
⏳ Jackpot rules
The jackpot is always at least €1 million. Whether it falls is decided by a separate jackpot machine with 11 black balls and 1 yellow ball: if the yellow ball is drawn, the jackpot is guaranteed to fall – it then goes to the player with the most correct numbers, even if nobody has 6 correct. With a black ball, it only falls if someone matches all 6 numbers; otherwise it grows by €100,000 for the next draw and that black ball is removed from the machine – so the chance of the yellow ball rises week by week. With several winners it is shared. The Nederlandse Loterij may adjust the exact mechanics; the official page is authoritative.
💰 All Prize Tiers
| Tier | Match | Prize (fixed) | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Jackpot) | 6 correct | Jackpot from €1,000,000 | 1 : 8,145,060 |
| 2 | 5 + reserve number | €100,000 | 1 : 1,357,510 |
| 3 | 5 correct | €1,000 | 1 : 35,724 |
| 4 | 4 + reserve number | €100 | 1 : 14,290 |
| 5 | 4 correct | €50 | 1 : 772 |
| 6 | 3 + reserve number | €15 | 1 : 579 |
| 7 | 3 correct | €8 | 1 : 48 |
| 8 | 2 + reserve number | €6 | 1 : 64 |
| 9 | 2 correct | Free lot | 1 : 7.4 |
Anyone playing one lot has roughly a 1 : 5.7 chance of winning in one of the nine tiers. We calculated the odds in the table exactly; added together they give precisely this official figure. About three quarters of all prizes are, however, just free lots (2 correct). The amounts come from the official prize schedule of the Nederlandse Loterij (as of October 2026) and may be adjusted: in a 2019 expert column the prize for 5 + reserve number was still €25,000.
According to the Nederlandse Loterij, gaming tax (kansspelbelasting) is withheld on prizes above €449. Different rules may apply to players from abroad. We do not give tax advice; consult a professional if needed.
📊 Analyse Nederlandse Lotto statistics
Frequency, overdue numbers and distribution of all numbers, free and transparent.
Register for free🆚 Nederlandse Lotto Compared
| Lottery | Format | Jackpot odds | Price / draws per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇱 Nederlandse Lotto | 6 from 45 + reserve number | 1 : 8.1M | €2.00 / 1 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgian Lotto | 6 from 45 + bonus number | 1 : 8.1M | €1.50 / 2 |
| 🇨🇭 Swiss Lotto | 6 from 42 + lucky number (1–6) | 1 : 31.5M | CHF 2.50 / 2 |
| 🇩🇪 Lotto 6aus49 | 6 from 49 + Superzahl (0–9) | 1 : 139.8M (tier 1) | €1.20 / 2 |
The Dutch and Belgian lotteries share their format and jackpot odds. The difference: the Netherlands has only one draw but only fixed prize amounts, while in Belgium the upper tiers are paid as a share of the stakes. The German tier-1 format also requires the Superzahl and is therefore far harder. More on the neighbouring games is in our guides to the Belgian Lotto and Swiss Lotto as well as in our article New International Lotteries 2026.
⚖️ Honestly: Random Is Random
Every draw is an independent random event. Even if the jackpot becomes more likely to fall with each draw, that does not raise the chance of a single line, which stays at 1 : 8,145,060. No strategy, no statistic and no AI model can predict numbers. Read Lottery odds explained and Lottery strategies: what really works. Only play with money you can afford to lose. This article is not legal or tax advice.
✅ Pros and Cons: Who Is the Nederlandse Lotto For?
- Same jackpot odds as Austria's Lotto and Belgian Lotto (1 : 8.1M)
- Nine prize tiers, prizes from 2 correct numbers
- Fixed prize amounts in tiers 2 to 8
- Minimum jackpot of €1 million
- Only one draw per week
- Jackpots usually smaller than EuroJackpot or EuroMillions
- €2.00 per lot, more than Belgian Lotto, for example
- Prizes often consist only of free lots or small amounts
Playing from Germany or elsewhere in Europe: From abroad, participation is usually only possible through third-party intermediary services. Check yourself whether this is permitted in your country, and verify the provider's reliability, fees and legal situation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Nederlandse Lotto drawn?
Every Saturday. The Nederlandse Loterij publishes the results on its website.
What is the smallest prize?
2 correct numbers earn a free lot, 2 correct plus the reserve number €6. The chance of 2 correct is about 1 : 7.4.
What is the reserve number?
A seventh number drawn from the remaining 39 balls. It lifts your tier if you have 5, 4, 3 or 2 correct numbers.
Are winnings tax-free?
The Nederlandse Loterij withholds gaming tax on prizes above €449. Different rules may apply to foreigners; this is not tax advice.
Can I improve my chances?
No. More lots raise your overall probability only in proportion to your stake; every single line stays equally likely.
💡 Summary
- ✅ 6 from 45 with a reserve number, jackpot odds 1 : 8.1 million, prizes from 2 correct numbers.
- ✅ Fixed prize amounts apart from the jackpot, minimum jackpot €1 million.
- ⚠️ Only one draw per week, comparatively small jackpots.
- ⚠️ Pure chance: no strategy guarantees wins, so play responsibly.
Sources: official prize schedule and game information of the Nederlandse Loterij (October 2026), column by Henk Tijms in STAtOR 2019/1 on the 2017 Lotto reform. Odds calculated exactly.