Zing Nederlands met je kinderen ‘Ik zag twee beren’

To sing Dutch, is to learn Dutch! In this series we will explain six of the most popular Dutch traditional nursery rhymes. If you have young 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 ‘Ik zag twee beren’.

Ik zag twee beren

Ik zag twee beren (I saw two bears) is a traditional Dutch nursery rhyme. The song is about all kinds of animals doing things you wouldn’t normally see animals doing. The first publication of the song dates back to 1850. The first time the buttering bears were mentioned was in 1905.

There are a lot of stanzas but the first one about the bears is best known and usually the only verse that’s sung. Here are the words and our translation of the first two verses. Note that ‘k is short for ‘Ik’ (I) and ’t is short for ‘het’ (it).

‘k Zag twee beren broodjes smeren

O  dat was een wonder

‘t Was een wonder boven wonder

Dat die beren smeren konden

Hi hi hi

Ha ha ha

‘k Stond erbij en ik keek ernaar

I saw two bears buttering buns

Oh it was a wonder

It was a wonder of wonders

That those bears could butter buns

Hi hi hi

Ha ha ha

I just stood there and watched

‘k Zag twee apen wortels schrapen

O dat was een wonder

‘t Was een wonder boven wonder

Dat die apen schrapen konden

Hi hi hi

Ha ha ha

‘k Stond erbij en ik keek ernaar

I saw two monkeys  scraping carrots

Oh it was a wonder

It was a wonder of wonders

That those monkeys could scrape carrots

Hi hi hi

Ha ha ha

I just stood there and watched

All posts:
Poesje mauw
Papegaaitje leef je nog?
Ik zag twee beren
In de maneschijn
Drie kleine kleutertjes
Slaap kindje, slaap

Afbeelding: www.kinderliedjes.info