Learn Dutch with Dance Music with these 11 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Dance
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning Dutch with Dance is a great way to learn Dutch! Learning with music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. So music and song lyrics are a great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning Dutch!
Below are 11 Dance song recommendations to get you started learning Dutch! We have full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs recommended below, so check out all of our resources. We hope you enjoy learning Dutch with Dance!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
1. Nu Wij Niet Meer Praten (Now That We Don't Talk Anymore)
Jaap Reesema, Pommelien Thijs
Zing je nog steeds mee met liedjes van Marco?
Tot de buurman klaagt
Rij je nog steeds in die ouwe Volvo?
'k Wil weten hoe 't met je
Do you still sing along to Marco's songs?
Till the neighbor complains
Do you still drive that old Volvo?
I wanna know how you're

Ever noticed how the smallest daily habits become deafening when someone is gone? In Nu Wij Niet Meer Praten the Dutch singer Jaap Reesema, joined by Belgian rising star Pommelien Thijs, paints a vivid postcard of post-breakup quiet. The narrator wanders past canals, wonders if the ex still belts out Marco Borsato hits or drives that trusty old Volvo, and realises that even the arguments he once despised have turned into something he longs for. Every street, every sound, every memory suddenly echoes only one name.

The song is a bittersweet confession of regret and nostalgia. Communication has stopped, and with that silence comes insomnia, overthinking, and the aching wish to rewind time. By zooming in on homely Dutch details and everyday routines, Reesema and Thijs show that love is not just grand gestures but also off-key sing-alongs and ordinary car rides. When those moments vanish, the quiet feels louder than any fight ever did, leaving one truth ringing clear: sometimes you only see what you had once it is impossible to talk about it.

2. Kind Van De Duivel (Child Of The Devil)
Jebroer
Ik ben een kind van de duivel
Mama, jij hoeft niet te huilen
Feesten, alsof elke dag hier mijn laatste is
Hoop dat je deze draait op mijn begrafenis
I'm a child of the devil
Mama, you don't have to cry
Party like every day here is my last
Hope you play this at my funeral

Brace yourself for a no-holds-barred party anthem! In “Kind Van De Duivel,” Dutch rapper Jebroer proudly declares himself a child of the devil and invites everyone—especially his worried mother—to stop crying and start celebrating. The repeated pledge to “party like every day is my last” sets a rebellious tone, turning life’s fleeting nature into a reason for non-stop revelry rather than fear.

Beneath the provocative hook lies a surprisingly uplifting message: Jebroer doesn’t want a tear-soaked farewell, but a festival of joy, loud music, drinks, and dancing around his coffin. By rejecting traditional mourning rituals in favor of a celebratory send-off, the song encourages listeners to embrace the present moment, live unapologetically, and remember loved ones with laughter instead of sorrow.

3. Morgen (Tomorrow)
Thomas Berge
De dag dat ik sober was
De dag dat ik vroeg opsta
De dag dat ik gezonder leven zal
De dag dat ik niet meer rook
The day that I was sober
The day that I get up early
The day that I will live healthier
The day that I no longer smoke

Ever told yourself “I’ll start tomorrow”? That’s exactly the playful confession at the heart of Morgen. Thomas Berge sings a hilarious to-do list: quit smoking, wake up early, get fit, write timeless songs, even get married. Every bold promise sounds like a superhero plan... until the chorus cheekily answers, “Ask me tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that.”

Behind the catchy refrain lies a relatable truth: we often postpone the big changes that could transform our lives. The track turns procrastination into a sing-along anthem, reminding us that dreams stay dreams if tomorrow keeps moving further away. It is upbeat, witty, and just a tad self-mocking; a perfect nudge to decide whether today will finally be the day.

4. Tranen (Tears)
Kris Kross Amsterdam, Kraantje Pappie, Pommelien
Gisteravond ging het even goed
Ik lieg, ik deed alsof, ik vlucht altijd in de nacht
Ik verstop mijn hart wanneer die bloedt
Je ziet de pijn dan nog
Last night things were good for a bit
I lie, I pretended, I always run off in the night
I hide my heart whenever it bleeds
You still see the pain then

Tranen – which literally means Tears – drops us right in the middle of a breakup’s most fragile moment. Over an infectious beat, Kris Kross Amsterdam teams up with Kraantje Pappie and Pommelien to confess how they’ve been hiding pain in late-night escapades, masking bleeding hearts behind forced smiles. The chorus, repeating “Droog je tranen, ook al heb je veel verdriet” (“Dry your tears, even though you’re hurting”), is both a pep talk and a goodbye: love still aches, yet clinging to it won’t save anyone.

The verses juggle regret, paradoxes and a flicker of optimism. They admit the fights, the illusions, and the hard truth that “life without you feels like no life at all,” but the song’s core message is clear – wipe the tears, start over, and trust that something brighter lies ahead. It turns a universal heartbreak into a dance-floor anthem of letting go, healing and daring to believe in a fresh start.

5. Vluchtstrook (Emergency Lane)
Kris Kross Amsterdam, Antoon, Sigourney K
Ik wil dat je niet wegloopt
En met de nacht verdwijnt
130 op de vluchtstrook
Om bij jou te zijn
I don't want you to walk away
And vanish with the night
130 on the shoulder
To be with you

Fasten your seatbelt! In “Vluchtstrook” (Dutch for emergency lane), Kris Kross Amsterdam team up with Antoon and Sigourney K to paint a high-speed picture of love. The singer tears down the highway at 130 km/h on the hard shoulder, ignoring every rule just to reach the person who keeps slipping away. That reckless shortcut becomes the perfect metaphor: when passion is this strong, even the breakdown lane starts to look like the right road.

Behind the club-ready beat lies a roller-coaster romance filled with mixed signals, panic attacks and late-night pleas. One moment they confess “I’m nothing without you,” the next they admit “I can be a jerk.” Still, the magnetism wins; smoke means fire, and they refuse to let the flame die. “Vluchtstrook” captures the thrill and chaos of a relationship that feels dangerous yet irresistible, inviting listeners to belt out the chorus while wondering just how far they’d drive for love themselves.

6. Alleen Omhoog (Only Up)
Thomas Berge
Ooit zei iemand tegen mij
Soms komt iemand te dichtbij
Ik dacht altijd bij mezelf
Weet ik
Once someone said to me
Sometimes someone comes too close
I always thought to myself
I know

Ready for liftoff? Thomas Berge’s “Alleen Omhoog” (which translates to Only Up) is a motivational anthem about dusting yourself off after someone has hurt you and discovering that the sky is still wide open. The singer looks back on a relationship where one person was “big” and the other “small,” yet the smaller one finally realizes, Hey, I can stand on my own two feet! When he checks the mirror, he doesn’t see the victim anymore; he sees a stronger version of himself who has nothing but open air above and bare ground below.

In every chorus he declares, “Ik kan alleen omhoog” - “I can only go up.” Each repetition feels like another step on a staircase made of self-belief. Doors swing open, past wounds grow lighter, and confidence replaces the weight of sorrow. So if you need an energetic reminder that rock bottom can be a trampoline, let this Dutch pop tune send you soaring alleen omhoog!

7. Mijn Woord (My Word)
Thomas Berge
Je nieuwe leven wacht op jou
Verwacht je komst en bevrijdt je meteen
Maakt je los van ons twee
Kan dit echt het einde zijn
Your new life is waiting for you
Awaits your arrival and frees you immediately
Releases you from the two of us
Can this really be the end

“Mijn Woord” is a heartfelt Dutch ballad where the singer faces the bittersweet moment of letting a loved one step into a new chapter of life. He feels the clock ticking, treasures every remaining second, and offers his blessing and solemn promise (“mijn woord”) before the farewell. Even while pain and denial linger, he shows selfless love: if this journey brings them peace, he will not hold them back.

At its core, the song balances sorrow with hope. The narrator imagines a future when they will be reunited, and this vision fuels his strength to say goodbye today. Listeners are drawn into themes of parting, trust, and unwavering support. It is a powerful reminder that true love sometimes means letting go, yet believing the bond will remain unbroken until they meet again.

8. Hij Is Van Mij (He Is Mine)
Kris Kross Amsterdam, Maan, Tabitha, Bizzey
Voor het eerst in m'n leven
Kan ik iemand alles geven
Ik voel me veiliger bij je
Hij heeft alles wat ik zoek
For the first time in my life
I can give someone everything
I feel safer with you
He has everything I'm looking for

“Hij Is Van Mij” is a spirited tug-of-love in which the singers plant their flags and declare, He belongs to me, not you! With playful bravado, Maan and Tabitha list everything that makes their guy irresistible and why their bond is unbreakable — from feeling safest in his arms to being on his mind every minute. Their verses sparkle with confidence, while Bizzey’s rap jumps in like a referee who secretly enjoys the drama.

Under the catchy, dance-ready beat crafted by Dutch hitmakers Kris Kross Amsterdam, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of friendly rivalry and unshakable devotion. Instead of heartbreak, the song celebrates self-assurance: each singer knows her worth and is ready to shout it from the rooftops. The result is an infectious anthem about love, loyalty, and the fun chaos that can erupt when more than one person wants to claim the same heart.

9. Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn (If Only I Could Be With You For A Moment)
Thomas Berge
Kon ik nog maar bij je zijn
Kon ik nog maar even met je delen
Wat zo gewoon lijkt voor zovelen
Zolang het er maar is
If only I could be with you again
If only I could share with you for a moment
What seems so normal for so many
As long as it is there

Thomas Berge's soulful ballad “Kon Ik Maar Even Bij Je Zijn” is a heartfelt shout into the void of absence. Every line rings with the ache of missing someone deeply cherished: a parent, partner, friend, or even a mentor. The singer dreams of swapping every earthly possession just to sit beside that person for a few precious moments, to ask unanswered questions, and to feel real love again. The lyrics capture the universal experience of realizing how “normal” love can feel while it is present, only for its true value to hit us once it is gone.

Under the gentle melody hides a powerful message: grief and longing can be overwhelming, yet they also reveal the depth of the love we once enjoyed. Berge’s repetition of “Kon ik maar even bij je zijn” (“If only I could be with you for a moment”) underscores an emotional tug-of-war between cherished memories and the painful gap left behind. Listening to this song is like opening a letter filled with bittersweet nostalgia and raw vulnerability, reminding us to treasure the people we love while we still can.

10. Engeltje (Angel)
Jebroer, DJ Paul Elstak, Dr Phunk
Ik wou dat ik een engel op m'n schouders had
Want het leven is een bitch, ik ben niet trouw mijn schat
Vechten voor m'n leven want de dood is om de hoek
Er is geen ruimte in de hel, sta bij de hemel op de stoep
I wish I had an angel on my shoulders
'Cause life is a b*tch, I'm not faithful, babe
Fighting for my life 'cause death is around the corner
There's no room in hell, I'm standing on heaven's doorstep

Engeltje (“little angel”) throws you straight into the nightlife of the Netherlands, where hard-hitting kicks meet a confession booth. 😇 Jebroer calls out for an angel on his shoulder because, as he bluntly puts it, life is a bitch. He feels death lurking just around the corner and even jokes that hell is full, so he’s already waiting on heaven’s doorstep. In the middle of this dark humor, the chorus pounds like a rave siren, making every worry feel like it’s dancing under strobe lights.

Yet the song is more than a late-night lament. It’s a rally cry for fierce self-belief: “There’s only one thing I believe in, and that’s myself.” 💪 No matter how messy or unfaithful he admits to being, Jebroer declares he is on a one-way trip to success and legendary status. The message? Even when the world feels chaotic, trust your own power, turn up the volume, and keep pushing—because legends never die. 🔥

11. Ik Vertrouw Je Niet Meer (I Don't Trust You Anymore)
Thomas Berge
Elk vermoeden dat ooit in mij rees
Is nu keihard een feit
Nu ik hier zwart op wit hardop lees
Wat voor leven jij leidt
Every suspicion that ever arose in me
Is now a hard fact
Now that I read aloud in black and white
What kind of life you lead

Ik Vertrouw Je Niet Meer propels us straight into the moment when trust shatters. Dutch pop star Thomas Berge catches the exact second the narrator discovers a love letter addressed to another man and realizes every vague suspicion was spot-on. Shock turns into rage as each neatly written sentence on the page exposes a hidden double life, making all those “beautiful excuses” suddenly click into place.

The chorus pounds like a judge’s gavel: “Ik vertrouw je niet meer” – “I don’t trust you anymore.” What begins as heartbreak quickly flips into empowerment. The singer untangles himself from a sticky web of lies, refusing to be fooled “for the umpteenth time.” By the end, the song feels less like a breakup ballad and more like a victory march out of deception, teaching us that sometimes losing someone unfaithful is the first step to gaining our freedom.