To sing Dutch, is to learn Dutch! In this series we explain six of the most popular Dutch traditional nursery rhymes. If you have young (grand)children, this is your chance to sing Dutch with them. Happy faces guaranteed! But if you’re not a parent this is also a good opportunity to practise your pronunciation, learn new Dutch words and dive into Dutch culture! This week we’ll teach you ‘Drie kleine kleutertjes’.
Drie kleine kleutertjes
‘Drie kleine kleutertjes’ (three little toddlers) is a classic, but somewhat old-fashioned, nursery rhyme. It brings up a lot of nostalgia for the older generation. Typically Dutch grandparents enjoy singing this song to their grandchildren. That’s why ‘Drie kleine kleutertjes’ definitely deserves a place in this series!
You can listen to the song with the YouTube player below. Originally it was a poem by English author of illustrated children’s books Kate Greenaway (1846 – 1901). It was made into a popular Dutch children’s song by Dutch composer and vocal teacher Catharine van Rennes (1858 – 1940). The English translation was found on www.mamalisa.com, but this might not be the original version. If anybody finds the original poem by Greenaway, please let us know by sending an email to dutchup@directdutch.com!
Drie kleine kleutertjesÂ
Drie kleine kleutertjes die zaten op een hek
Boven op een hek
Drie kleine kleutertjes die zaten op een hek
Op een mooie zomerse dag in september
Waarover spraken zij, die drie daar op dat hek
Boven op dat hek
Waarover spraken zij, die drie daar op dat hek
Op die mooie zomerse dag in september
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‘t Was over krekeltjes en korenbloemen blauw
Korenbloemen blauw
‘t Was over krekeltjes en korenbloemen blauw
Op een mooie warme dag in september
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Three Little Toddlers
Three little toddlers were sitting on a fence,
On top of a fence.
Three little toddlers were sitting on a fence,
On a nice warm day in September.
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What were they talking about, those three on the fence,
On top of a fence.
What were they talking about, those three on the fence,
On that nice warm day in September.
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It was about little crickets and cornflowers blue,
Cornflowers blue.
It was about little crickets and cornflowers blue,
On that nice warm day in September.
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Poesje mauw
Papegaaitje leef je nog?
Ik zag twee beren
In de maneschijn
Drie kleine kleutertjes
Slaap kindje, slaap