diff --git a/src/dolphinmainwindow.h b/src/dolphinmainwindow.h
--- a/src/dolphinmainwindow.h
+++ b/src/dolphinmainwindow.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #ifndef DOLPHIN_MAINWINDOW_H
 #define DOLPHIN_MAINWINDOW_H
 
+#include "dolphintabwidget.h"
 #include <config-baloo.h>
 #include <kio/fileundomanager.h>
 #include <ksortablelist.h>
@@ -327,7 +328,17 @@
     /**
      * Opens a new tab in the background showing the URL \a url.
      */
-    void openNewTab(const QUrl& url);
+    void openNewTab(const QUrl& url, DolphinTabWidget::TabPlacement tabPlacement);
+
+    /**
+     * Opens a new tab and places it after the current tab
+     */
+    void openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(const QUrl& url);
+
+    /**
+     * Opens a new tab and places it as the last tab
+     */
+    void openNewTabAfterLastTab(const QUrl& url);
 
     /**
      * Opens the selected folder in a new tab.
diff --git a/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp b/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
--- a/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/dolphinmainwindow.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "dolphincontextmenu.h"
 #include "dolphinnewfilemenu.h"
 #include "dolphinrecenttabsmenu.h"
-#include "dolphintabwidget.h"
 #include "dolphinviewcontainer.h"
 #include "dolphintabpage.h"
 #include "middleclickactioneventfilter.h"
@@ -315,9 +314,19 @@
     m_tabWidget->openNewActivatedTab();
 }
 
-void DolphinMainWindow::openNewTab(const QUrl& url)
+void DolphinMainWindow::openNewTab(const QUrl& url, DolphinTabWidget::TabPlacement tabPlacement)
 {
-    m_tabWidget->openNewTab(url);
+    m_tabWidget->openNewTab(url, QUrl(), tabPlacement);
+}
+
+void DolphinMainWindow::openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(const QUrl& url)
+{
+    m_tabWidget->openNewTab(url, QUrl(), DolphinTabWidget::AfterCurrentTab);
+}
+
+void DolphinMainWindow::openNewTabAfterLastTab(const QUrl& url)
+{
+    m_tabWidget->openNewTab(url, QUrl(), DolphinTabWidget::AfterLastTab);
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::openInNewTab()
@@ -328,15 +337,15 @@
     foreach (const KFileItem& item, list) {
         const QUrl& url = DolphinView::openItemAsFolderUrl(item);
         if (!url.isEmpty()) {
-            m_tabWidget->openNewTab(url, QUrl(), DolphinTabWidget::AfterCurrentTab);
+            openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(url);
             tabCreated = true;
         }
     }
 
     // if no new tab has been created from the selection
     // open the current directory in a new tab
     if (!tabCreated) {
-        m_tabWidget->openNewTab(m_activeViewContainer->url(), QUrl(), DolphinTabWidget::AfterCurrentTab);
+        openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(m_activeViewContainer->url());
     }
 }
 
@@ -740,25 +749,25 @@
 {
     KUrlNavigator* urlNavigator = activeViewContainer()->urlNavigator();
     const int index = urlNavigator->historyIndex() + 1;
-    openNewTab(urlNavigator->locationUrl(index));
+    openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(urlNavigator->locationUrl(index));
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::goForwardInNewTab()
 {
     KUrlNavigator* urlNavigator = activeViewContainer()->urlNavigator();
     const int index = urlNavigator->historyIndex() - 1;
-    openNewTab(urlNavigator->locationUrl(index));
+    openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(urlNavigator->locationUrl(index));
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::goUpInNewTab()
 {
     const QUrl currentUrl = activeViewContainer()->urlNavigator()->locationUrl();
-    openNewTab(KIO::upUrl(currentUrl));
+    openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(KIO::upUrl(currentUrl));
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::goHomeInNewTab()
 {
-    openNewTab(Dolphin::homeUrl());
+    openNewTabAfterCurrentTab(Dolphin::homeUrl());
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::compareFiles()
@@ -889,7 +898,7 @@
         break;
 
     case DolphinContextMenu::OpenParentFolderInNewTab:
-        openNewTab(KIO::upUrl(item.url()));
+        openNewTabAfterLastTab(KIO::upUrl(item.url()));
         break;
 
     case DolphinContextMenu::None:
@@ -1328,7 +1337,7 @@
     connect(foldersPanel, &FoldersPanel::folderActivated,
             this, &DolphinMainWindow::changeUrl);
     connect(foldersPanel, &FoldersPanel::folderMiddleClicked,
-            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTab);
+            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTabAfterCurrentTab);
     connect(foldersPanel, &FoldersPanel::errorMessage,
             this, &DolphinMainWindow::showErrorMessage);
 
@@ -1384,7 +1393,7 @@
     connect(m_placesPanel, &PlacesPanel::placeActivated,
             this, &DolphinMainWindow::slotPlaceActivated);
     connect(m_placesPanel, &PlacesPanel::placeMiddleClicked,
-            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTab);
+            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTabAfterCurrentTab);
     connect(m_placesPanel, &PlacesPanel::errorMessage,
             this, &DolphinMainWindow::showErrorMessage);
     connect(this, &DolphinMainWindow::urlChanged,
@@ -1598,7 +1607,7 @@
     connect(navigator, &KUrlNavigator::editableStateChanged,
             this, &DolphinMainWindow::slotEditableStateChanged);
     connect(navigator, &KUrlNavigator::tabRequested,
-            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTab);
+            this, &DolphinMainWindow::openNewTabAfterLastTab);
 }
 
 void DolphinMainWindow::updateSplitAction()
diff --git a/src/views/dolphinview.h b/src/views/dolphinview.h
--- a/src/views/dolphinview.h
+++ b/src/views/dolphinview.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #ifndef DOLPHINVIEW_H
 #define DOLPHINVIEW_H
 
+#include "dolphintabwidget.h"
 #include "dolphin_export.h"
 
 #include <KFileItem>
@@ -400,7 +401,7 @@
     /**
      * Is emitted if a new tab should be opened for the URL \a url.
      */
-    void tabRequested(const QUrl& url);
+    void tabRequested(const QUrl& url, DolphinTabWidget::TabPlacement tabPlacement);
 
     /**
      * Is emitted if the view mode (IconsView, DetailsView,
diff --git a/src/views/dolphinview.cpp b/src/views/dolphinview.cpp
--- a/src/views/dolphinview.cpp
+++ b/src/views/dolphinview.cpp
@@ -853,7 +853,7 @@
         const QUrl& url = openItemAsFolderUrl(item);
 
         if (!url.isEmpty()) { // Open folders in new tabs
-            emit tabRequested(url);
+            emit tabRequested(url, DolphinTabWidget::AfterLastTab);
         } else {
             items.append(item);
         }
@@ -871,9 +871,9 @@
     const KFileItem& item = m_model->fileItem(index);
     const QUrl& url = openItemAsFolderUrl(item);
     if (!url.isEmpty()) {
-        emit tabRequested(url);
+        emit tabRequested(url, DolphinTabWidget::AfterCurrentTab);
     } else if (isTabsForFilesEnabled()) {
-        emit tabRequested(item.url());
+        emit tabRequested(item.url(), DolphinTabWidget::AfterCurrentTab);
     }
 }