What does “verstoppertje” mean in Dutch?
Buitenspelen in het park: verboden of gezond?
A2 Dutch listening practice · Dutch · Curated for beginners
Verstoppertje is the Dutch word for the children’s hide-and-seek game, formed from the verb verstoppen (“to hide”) plus the diminutive ending -tje. The game is a Dutch speeltuin and schoolyard universal: kids count to a number while one player hides, then everyone seeks. Variations include kiekeboe (peekaboo for toddlers) and zaklopen outdoor versions for school sportdagen. The diminutive softens the noun: an adult could say “laten we verstoppertje spelen” without irony, where saying “verstoppen” alone would sound formal. The Dutch language reaches for diminutives like this one in nearly every casual context.
In this clip, two adults play verstoppertje in a Dutch park: “Ik ben me aan het verstoppen. Gewonden. Dus de heren spelen verstoppertje.”
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Words above this video’s level
Quick glosses for vocabulary that goes beyond this video’s A2 level.
Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-NL 2014 (spoken). Buckets approximate; exact ranks not stored.
- ▸In Dutch primary-school content and speeltuin writing (Het Klokhuis, Schooltv, NOS Jeugdjournaal)
- ▸In Dutch parenting writing about outdoor play (Kek Mama, Ouders van Nu, J/M Ouders)
- ▸In Dutch language-learning content for non-natives (Onze Taal, Talenacademie, NTR)
- ▸In Dutch sitcoms and family comedy (Toren C, SpangaS, De Luizenmoeder)