“Het Bootje” — Little Boat Song in Dutch for Kids
In “Het Bootje” (The Little Boat), kids sing key Dutch words like het bootje, de zee, de golven and schommel zachtjes, going back and forth between English and Dutch, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a beginner song from Unit 27: Bedtime Lullabies, 2:20 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇳🇱 Dutch
- Level: Beginner
- Unit 27 · Slaapliedjes
- ⏱ 2:20
- 🔒 Premium
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“Het Bootje” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. Dutch is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Little boat — het bootje | |
| Het bootje — little boat | |
| On the sea — op de zee | |
| Op de zee — on the sea | |
| Waves, the waves — de golven | |
| De golven — waves, the waves | |
| Rock gently — schommel zachtjes | |
| Schommel zachtjes — rock gently | |
| Back and forth — heen en weer | |
| Heen en weer — back and forth | |
| Slowly, slowly — heel langzaam | |
| Heel langzaam — slowly, slowly | |
| Sleep, little one — slaap, liefje | |
| Slaap, liefje — sleep, little one | |
| Soft wind — de wind | |
| De wind — soft wind | |
| Warm sand — het zand | |
| Het zand — warm sand | |
| Far lighthouse — de vuurtoren | |
| De vuurtoren — far lighthouse | |
| Blinking softly, far away | Zachtjes knipperend, ver weg |
| Heel zachtjes, ver van hier | Very softly, far from here |
| Back and forth — heen en weer | |
| Heen en weer — back and forth | |
| Slowly, slowly — heel langzaam | |
| Heel langzaam — slowly, slowly | |
| Sleep, little one — slaap, liefje | |
| Slaap, liefje — sleep, little one | |
| Little boat — het bootje | |
| Het bootje — little boat | |
| Rock gently — schommel zachtjes | |
| Schommel zachtjes — rock gently | |
| Back and forth — heen en weer | |
| Heen en weer — back and forth | |
| Sleep, little one — slaap, liefje | |
| Slaap, liefje — sleep, little one | |
| Mmm, mmm… | |
| Mmm, mmm… | |
| Heel langzaam… | Very slowly… |
| Slaap… | Sleep… |
Key Dutch words in this song
The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| het bootje | the little boat |
| de zee | the sea |
| de golven | the waves |
| schommel zachtjes | rock gently |
| de wind | the wind |
| het zand | the sand |
| de vuurtoren | the lighthouse |
| heel langzaam | slowly |
| heen en weer | back and forth |
| slaap | sleep |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Listen for “slaap”
“slaap” (sleep) is sung on 7 lines of this song. Ask your child to clap or raise a hand every time they hear it; by the end they will be saying it with the song.
- 2
Pause between the call and the answer
The song moves back and forth between English and Dutch. On a second listen, pause after an English line and let your child try the Dutch answer before the song sings it.
- 3
Make it a routine
At 2:20, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Play it as the last song of the day, with the lights low.
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“The Little Boat” in other languages
The same song, written for each language we teach.
134 Dutch songs, 32 topics, one joyful habit
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