Heleen wrote me, "Slaap kindje slaap, is probably the most famous 'slaapliedje' (= sleep-song = nursery rhyme to get babies asleep)."

Slaap Kindje Slaap - Dutch Children's Songs - The Netherlands - Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Rhymes from Around the World  - Intro Image

Notes

The literal translation goes...

Sleep, *little child, sleep,
There, outside walks a sheep,
A sheep with white little feet,
You drink it's milk so sweet.
Sleep, little child, sleep,
There, outside walks a sheep.

*(Note that this is direct translation,
good use would be to use the word baby)

Here's another translation...

Sleep, baby sleep,
Outside, there grazes a sheep,
A sheep with little white feet,
It drinks the milk so sweet.
Sleep, baby sleep,
Outside, there grazes a sheep.

The following version has two verses...

Slaap kindje slaap
Daar buiten loopt een schaap
Een schaap met witte voetjes
Die drinkt zijn melk zo zoetjes
Slaap kindje slaap
Daar buiten loopt een schaap.

Slaap kindje slaap
Daar buiten loopt een schaap
Een schaap met witte voetjes
Die drinkt zijn melk zo zoetjes
Melkje van de bonte koe
Kindje doet zijn oogjes toe.

English Translation

Sleep, little child, sleep,
Outside, there's walking a sheep,
A sheep with tiny white feet,
Who's drinking his milk so sweet.
Sleep, little child, sleep,
Outside, there's walking a sheep.

Sleep, little child, sleep,
Outside, there's walking a sheep,
A sheep with tiny white feet,
Who's drinking his milk so sweet,
Milk from the spotted cow,
The little child closes his eyes.

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Sheet Music

Sheet Music - Slaap Kindje Slaap

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Carla van de Geer for contributing and translating the first version of this lullaby. I'm also grateful to Karyn Donachy-Schwanen for contributing the 2nd and 3rd translations. My thanks also go out to Heleen de Vaan for contributing and translating the last version of Slaap Kindje Slaap.

Illustration: Walter Satterlee

Dank u wel!