Learning Dutch With Sinterklaas Songs: Lyrics & Background
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You may have already read about the story of Sinterklaas in our blog. Singing songs is another aspect of Dutch and Belgian culture in the weeks around this holiday period. Learning these songs is also great way to immerse yourself into Dutch and Belgian culture, as well as a fun way to learn the language. In this blog, I will tell you about some of the most well-known and well-loved Sinterklaas songs “Zachtjes gaan de paardenvoetjes”, “Dag Sinterklaasje”, “Sinterklaas is jarig”, “Zie ginds komt de stoomboot”, and “Zie, de maan schijnt door de bomen”.
Before we begin
To better understand the lyrics when you read them and listen to the songs, it’s helpful to know some context of certain words. For a full understanding of where these songs come from, I highly recommend reading our previous blog about the story of Sinterklaas.
- “Sinterklaas”, “Sinterklaasje”, “Sint-Nicolaas” and “Sint” all refer to the same man: the man who brings gifts to children in December.
- “Zwarte Piet”, “roet Piet”, “Piet” and “hulp Piet” all refer to the same thing: the helpers of Sinterklaas who bring gifts and sweets in colourful clothing.
- “Schimmel”, “paard” and “paardje” all refer to the same thing; the white horse on which Sinterklaas travels through cities and villages to deliver gifts.
- The “stoomboot” is the steamboat that Sinterklaas, his horse and the Pieten travel with every year from Spain to the Netherlands and Belgium.
Five of the most well-loved Sinterklaas songs
1. Zachtjes gaan de paardenvoetjes
The lyrics of this song were written by Simon Abramsz. The melody that was used for this song Enrique Grandados ‘Valses Poeticos No. 1’. It was first published in 1911 in a book of lyrics and piano music by Simon Abramsz.
The first couplet of the song goes as follows
Dutch version
Zoetjes gaan de paardenvoetjes
Trippel trappel, trippel, trap
’T is het paard van Sinterklaasje
Trippel trappel, trippel, trap
’S Schimmeltje draagt met gemak
Sinterklaasje over ’t dak.
English translation
Sweetly the little horse feet go...
Pitter-patter, pitter-pat…
It’s the horse of Sinterklaas…
Pitter-patter, pitter-pat…
The white horse caries with ease…
Sinterklaas over the roofs.
2. Dag Sinterklaasje
The lyrics of this song were written by Antoinette van Dijk. The original and longer version of the song was called ‘Wees welkom vandaag in ons midden’, but in modern times only the portion of the song called ‘Dag Sinterklaasje’ is still used. The melody this song was based on is of ‘O Winter, schlimmer Winter’ by F. Meldelssohn Bartholdy. The original song was first published in 1926.
The entire modern song is simply a repetition of the first couplet three times. That first couplet of the song goes as follows.
Dutch Version
Dag, Sinterklaasje, da-ag, da-ag,
Da-ag, da-ag, Zwarte Piet
Dag, Sinterklaasje, da-ag, da-ag,
Luister naar ons afscheidslied
English translation
Bye, Sinterklaasje, by-e, by-e
By-e, by-e, ‘Zwarte Piet’
Bye, Sinterklaasje, by-e, by-e
Listen to our goodbye song
3. Sinterklaas is jarig
The lyrics of this song were written by W.F Oostveen, and the melody is based on a song by G. C. Weeren. The song was first published in a Sinterklaas songbook by H.A. Almoes in the 1920’s, but it is expected to be much older than that.
The first couplet of the lyrics is as follows:
Dutch version
Sinterklaas is jarig,
‘k zet mijn schoen vast klaar
Hoop dat hij hem vol doet,
met, ja, wist ik het maar…
Hier zet ik wat water,
daar wat hooi voor ’t paard
Want dat trouwe beestje,
is het heus wel waard
English translation
It’s Sinterklaas’ Birthday,
I’ll place my shoe by the door
I hope he fills him up…
With… well what do I know
Here I’ll place some water
There some hay for the horse
‘Cause that sweet little horse
Is worth more than you know
You can also listen to the song via this link.
4. Zie ginds komt de stoomboot
The lyrics of this song, which was originally a poem, were written by Jan Schenkman which was first published around 1850. The song later turned into a song in 1912, using the melody of ‘Im Märzen der Bauer’ by Josef Pommer.
The first couplet of the lyrics is as follows:
Dutch version
Zie, ginds komt de stoomboot
Uit Spanje weer aan!
Hij brengt ons Sint Nicolaas
Ik zie hem al staan.
Hoe huppelt zijn paardje
Het dek op en neer,
Hoe waaien de wimpels
Al heen en al weer
English translation
There comes the steamboat
All the way from Spain
He brings us Sint Nicolaas
I see him standing there
How his horse is hopping
Up and the down the deck
The wind keeps on blowing
From left and from right.
You can also listen to the song via this link.
5. Zie de maan schijnt door de bomen
The lyrics of this song were written by poet Jan Pieter Heije. A fun fact about the author is that a street in Amsterdam was named after him. The music of this song is by Joannes Josephus Viotta. The song was first published in 1861.
The the lyrics are as follows:
Dutch version
Zie de maan schijnt door de bomen.
Makkers taakt uw wild geraas.
T’ Heerlijk avondje is gekomen
T’ avondje van Sinterklaas.
Vol verwachting klopt ons hart,
Wie de koek krijft, wie de gard.
Vol verwachting klopt ons hart,
Wie de koek krijgt, wie de gard.
English translation
See the moon shines through the trees
Friends, cease your wild roars
The beautiful evening is upon us
The evening of Sinterklaas
Full of anticipation our hearts beat
Who gets the sweets, and who the whisk
Full of anticipation our hearts beat
Who gets the sweets, and who the whisk
I hope you enjoyed this blog and that it will give you a fun way to practice your Dutch and get into the holiday spirit this December. Let us know via the forums what your favorite holiday song is from your own country and the holidays you personally celebrate each year.
Warm wishes,
Marieke, OLS Community Manager - Dutch
Source: Wikimedia Commons