Word Games for Traveling and Vacation: Keeping Dutch Fun for Expat Kids

Word Games for Traveling and Vacation: Keeping Dutch Fun for Expat Kids

Traveling with children is an adventure in itself – especially if you want to keep practicing Dutch along the way. 🚗✈️

Whether you’re a Dutch parent living abroad wanting to keep the language alive, or an expat parent in the Netherlands looking for playful ways to help your children integrate into Dutch, language games can be used in any situation.

In this blog, I’ll share personal tips from my own family and ideas I’ve heard from other parents – categorized by age group – from toddlers and elementary school children to teens – full of word games for travel or vacation. That way, every car ride, flight, or train journey becomes a chance to have fun in Dutch together.

Tip: the games below are easy to adjust. For native Dutch-speaking kids living abroad, it’s a fun way to use their mother tongue. For children learning Dutch as a second language (NT2), you can simplify the games and explain new words. The most important thing is: keep it fun and relaxed! Nothing needs to be perfect – as long as they’re playing with language and having fun.

Toddlers & Preschoolers (approx. 3–6 years) – Playful Language Fun for the Little Ones

• I spy with my little eye… – This classic never gets old. One player (preferably a parent or older sibling to start) says: “I spy with my little eye, and it is… [color].” For example: “…and it is red!” The others have to guess what object in the area has that color.

For preschoolers, this is a fantastic way to practice colors and objects. For example, if you’re vacationing in London or New York, keep naming what you see in Dutch (“red bus”, “yellow taxi”) so your expat child learns the words.

One time when we were stuck in traffic, my 4-year-old daughter excitedly said: “I spy with my little eye, and it is green!” It turned out to be a tree we’d passed a kilometer earlier – everyone laughed, of course. Hilarious!

• Guess the animal sound – Take turns thinking of an animal and making the sound it makes. Let the others guess and say the name in Dutch. Young children burst out laughing mimicking a cow (“boe!”) or a sheep (“béééh”). A fun way to practice animal names.

As a Dutch parent abroad, you’ll quickly notice whether your little one remembers the words (“Was that a cow or a rabbit?”). And if your child is just starting to learn Dutch, repeat the word after guessing: “Yes, that was a cow! Can you do the cow again?” – repetition is key!

• Color and counting games – There’s so much to see while traveling. Ask your preschooler to count how many Dutch flags they spot, or how many blue cars they can find. Simple counting in Dutch (“one, two, three…”) keeps the language alive.

You can also each pick a color and see who spots the most items in that color in the next few minutes – great for learning colors, numbers, and a bit of healthy competition.

My 4-year-old daughter got super excited counting yellow trucks while we were driving through Spain – no yellow car escaped her sharp eyes!

• Sing a song (fill in the blanks) – Preschoolers love songs and rhymes. Start singing a familiar Dutch children’s song and pause, letting your child complete it. For example: “In Holland staat een huis…” and wait for them to finish it – however they know it.

Singing together in the car or on the plane keeps Dutch alive and is simply cozy. You’ll notice your child loves teaching you the lyrics if you pretend to forget them.

You can also try simple rhyming games: “I say ball, what rhymes with it?” Your child might say “fall” or a made-up word – all good, they’re learning to recognize sounds.

Tip: For toddlers, feel free to use both languages. If your child says “blue car!” in English, respond with joy and repeat in Dutch: “Yes, a blue car!” That keeps the tone positive.

Expat parents in the Netherlands can mix in a little English for explanation but keep repeating the Dutch words. These games are always a hit at our house. Before you know it, your toddler will ask: “Can we play another game?”

Early Primary (approx. 6–9 years) – Language Games for Young Explorers

Children in this age group (early primary school, roughly grades 1–3) are actively learning to read and write – often in two languages if they live abroad. They’re curious and love games with a bit of challenge, while still enjoying playfulness.

During travel, you can build on this with slightly more complex word games that also stimulate creative thinking. Here are some favorites that always work well in our car or vacation trips:

• I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing… – A memory classic that fits perfectly with the travel vibe. The first player (usually the parent to give an example) says: “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing… a toothbrush.”

The next repeats that and adds something: “I’m going on a trip and I’m bringing a toothbrush and a soccer ball.” Then the next: “…a toothbrush, a soccer ball, and a book,” and so on. The list grows and gets sillier, and everyone must pay attention. Forget an item? You’re out – or get a fun challenge (“Sing a song in Dutch!”).

Kids aged 6–9 love this – it trains memory and teaches new words (because parents will throw in things like “swimsuit”, “world map” or “teddy bear”).

Once, on a drive to France, our list reached 15 items, including “a dinosaur in a suitcase” (thanks to my 8-year-old daughter 🦖) – so much fun!

• Word chain (new word starts with last letter) – This game challenges kids to quickly think of words and is great for vocabulary. Pick a category, like animals or food. The first player says a word, e.g., “monkey”. The next must say a word starting with the last letter – ‘y’, so maybe “yak”. Then “koala”, etc.

You can do it with or without categories, depending on the level. If your child lives in the Netherlands, they might already know lots of Dutch animals. Abroad, you may need to help translate now and then.

This game can go on for ages. Best part? Helping each other when stuck – everyone learns new words.

• Hangman (guess the word with letters) – Always a winner! A timeless classic. You only need pen and paper (or play verbally if writing is tricky in the car).

Think of a Dutch word and draw dashes for each letter. Players guess letters in turns. Correct? Fill it in. Wrong? Draw a part of the gallows or stick figure. Guess the word before the figure is complete!

Choose everyday words or vacation-related ones. A family in England told me their 7-year-old daughter often picked English loanwords also used in Dutch (like “skateboard” or “pizza”) – clever!

It’s perfect for practicing spelling without it feeling school-like. Bonus giggles if the stick figure ends up very wobbly on bumpy roads!

• Language Bingo – Bingo, but with a language twist. Draw a card together beforehand, with each square showing a word or image of something you might see on your journey:

Think: tree, bridge, bicycle, airplane, cow, stop sign – tailor it to your route. Each player gets a card. Spot the item? Cross it off. First with a full row yells “Bingo!”

You can set small rewards (in our car, a full card earns extra dessert 😋). Perfect for ages 6–9: it helps them read (or recognize pictures) and connect words to the real world.

If you’ve just moved to the Netherlands, use recently learned Dutch words so your child can spot them in action. And Dutch expat kids will love playing “Dutch Bingo” abroad too.

Bonus: It keeps them busy on the backseat – screen-free!

• Unfortunately/Fortunately (make up a story) – A wonderfully creative game I learned from an Australian family.

One person starts with a sentence beginning with “Unfortunately…” describing a problem or something funny. The next responds with “Fortunately…” giving a solution or positive twist.

Example: “Unfortunately… my ice cream fell on the ground.” – “Fortunately… dad had a second one!” Then: “Unfortunately… it had melted.” – “Fortunately… we had a spoon and made it into a milkshake.” Keep going!

Kids can make up anything – the crazier, the better. This game encourages forming full Dutch sentences and teaches positive/negative thinking.

We’ve had so much fun with this on road trips, especially when imaginations run wild. One student once started with “Unfortunately, there’s a crocodile under my seat.” To which I replied, “Fortunately, it’s vegetarian!” – everyone burst out laughing.

For expat kids learning Dutch, this is a valuable way to practice words like “unfortunately” and “fortunately” and build sentences. Help them with vocab if needed, but let them take the lead – they’ll surprise you with their creativity!

Upper Primary (approx. 10–12 years) – Fun and Challenge for the Older Kids

Older primary kids (grades 4–6, around ages 10 to 12) are beginning to become preteens. They often have a larger vocabulary and pick up new words quickly, especially if they attend school in the Netherlands again.

Dutch expat kids of this age who live abroad can usually read well and benefit from continuing to speak, so their language remains active.

The key is: make it funny or challenging, and they’ll want to join in (even if they pretend they’re not interested – trust me, they usually enjoy it!). Here are some game ideas that engage their language sense and creativity:

• Word Finder (find short words in a long one) – Choose a long Dutch word together and try to make as many shorter words as possible from its letters.

You may rearrange letters, but each letter can only be used as many times as it appears in the original word. For example, the long word is “vakantiespret”. You could form “tas”, “kies”, or “kanarie” from it.

Write the words down or take turns saying them aloud. This is a great puzzle for the car or a rainy vacation day. The player who finds the most words wins.

Bilingual kids might try to form English words – challenge them to find Dutch ones (and enjoy the silly words that appear). Our kids were proud when they managed to find over 20 different Dutch words from “zomervakantie”.

• Who am I? (Yes/No question game) – This classic guessing game works well in any language. One player secretly thinks of a person, animal, or object. The others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.

Example: “Do you wear it?” “Is it an animal?” “Does this person live in the Netherlands?” They only get answers in ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Upper primary kids can ask smart questions and use logic to narrow it down.

If your child is new to Dutch, model a few questions or help with vocabulary (“Say: is it bigger than a car?”).

When we vacationed with my sister’s family, the kids played this for hours in the backseat. My 10-year-old nephew picked “the Eiffel Tower” – the others guessed it after 15 questions. Cheers all around! It’s a game that never gets old and requires no materials – perfect for travel.

• The Forbidden Word – This silly game brings lots of laughter, especially with chatty older kids. Together, choose a word that no one is allowed to say for a while.

Classic options: “yes” or “no” – try going several minutes without saying them. Or choose everyday words like “I” or “the”. If someone slips, they’re out (or get a funny dare). Play until there’s one winner left who controls their tongue best.

You’ll realize how often you say certain words. Kids will get creative to avoid them (“say something positive or negative instead of yes/no!”).

My 8-year-old daughter tried to make my husband lose by asking questions nearly impossible to answer without yes/no – clever girl! You can play this in any country – as long as you speak Dutch with each other. Great for speaking skills (thinking of synonyms!) and guaranteed to cause giggles.

• Make Up a Story Together – Creating a silly story is a beautiful way to spark imagination and strengthen language skills.

You can do it in different ways: each person adds a sentence, or (for extra chaos) switch every few words. 😂

Start with: “Once upon a time there was a dog who wanted to go to the moon.” The next continues: “He built a rocket out of trash from the bin…” and so on.

Before you know it, you’ve created an absurd story filled with Dutch words. Older primary kids secretly love making up wild tales – and they learn structure and vocabulary from each other.

Dutch parents abroad will notice their child starts forming Dutch sentences they wouldn’t otherwise say. Expat parents in the Netherlands might be surprised at how much their child dares to say in Dutch – especially when the story is a bit silly and the fear disappears.

Pro tip: you can also each be a character and invent dialogues.

Let the kids take the lead; you can gently help if they get stuck on a word.

One of my lessons once turned into a tale about a chatty parrot and a space-traveling grandma – it made no sense at all, but we laughed so hard and practiced loads of vocabulary.

• Tongue Twisters and Word Jokes – Challenge your older child with classic Dutch tongue twisters (tricky-to-pronounce sentences).

Try: “De kat krabt de krullen van de trap” or “Liesje leerde Lotje lopen langs de lange Lindenlaan.” Guaranteed to cause giggles!

Tongue twisters are great for pronunciation practice, especially for kids learning Dutch with an accent – they naturally train their mouth and tongue muscles. You can also share word jokes and riddles.

For example: “What’s green and slides down a snowy hill? – A skiwi!” (cheesy? Yes! But that’s why 10-year-olds love it). Encourage them to invent their own puns – mixing in a bit of English is fine, as long as they explain it in Dutch.

Kids in this age group love a challenge; they can handle it and grow from it.

I love how they nearly forget they’re speaking Dutch while playing. Whether you’re driving through the Scottish Highlands or biking across the Veluwe, Dutch can happily come along for the ride.

Teens (approx. 12–18 years) – Language for Teens: Staying Creative and Engaged

Teenagers… They sometimes have a shorter attention span for “games with parents,” but don’t underestimate them!

Teens can definitely still enjoy language games – secretly. And it’s especially important at this age to maintain or strengthen their Dutch: for Dutch teens abroad, to keep up their level (useful if they return to study later); and for international teens in the Netherlands, to really feel at home with the language.

The trick is to make the games a bit more mature or interesting, and to let teens contribute their own ideas. Here are a few ideas that even got our most eye-rolling teens to laugh:

• Travel Dilemmas – Teens love talking about what they find interesting. A great language game is to give each other funny dilemmas and discuss them in Dutch.

Example: “Would you rather go a week without your phone or a week without showering?” or “If you could only eat fries or sushi for the rest of your life, which would you choose?”

Everyone chooses and explains their answer (in Dutch, of course). This leads to lively conversations – before you know it, your teens are giving full Dutch arguments without you having to beg.

If you’re an expat parent who doesn’t speak Dutch, translate the options together first, but let your teen do the talking. When I played this with a 15-year-old student in Italy, we had hilarious dilemmas (“Never Netflix again or never eat cheese again?” – tough for a cheese lover 😂).

These chats are informal, fun, and valuable for Dutch language practice.

• Word and Response – This is a homemade variation on association games, great for mixed-language families.

One person says a Dutch word related to your trip or destination, like “beach”. The next must quickly respond with the first Dutch word that comes to mind – “towel”, then maybe “soft”, and so on.

It can go fast, and it’s fun to see where it ends. You might start with “vacation” and end with “ice cream” or “sunscreen”. Teens enjoy the pace and the fact that there’s no wrong answer.

They also learn new words from each other (“Oh, you think of ‘shells’ when I say ‘beach’? I forgot that word!”). This works for all levels: a Dutch teen abroad might use tricky words to challenge the parents, while an NT2 learner might keep it simple – both are great!

The key is: respond spontaneously in Dutch.

• Language Rap or Karaoke – Music is often the way to a teen’s heart. If your teens are glued to their earbuds, try involving them with a music-based language task.

Challenge them to make a short Dutch rap about the vacation, or let them DJ with Dutch hits and sing along together.

If you’ve just moved to the Netherlands, try some Dutch pop or hip hop and follow along with the lyrics (even if it’s choppy – that’s the fun part!).

Dutch expat families might already have a favorite Dutch artist (Snelle? Maan? Maybe Kinderen voor Kinderen for younger teens?) – let the teen pick a song to share.

Then ask: “What is this song about? Can you summarize it?” Even a few minutes of scrolling on Spotify can become a language activity.

• Word Puzzles and Riddles – For puzzle-loving teens, keep a few language riddles ready.

Try Dutch anagrams (jumbled letters) or short cryptic clues.

For example: “Which 6-letter word is always ahead of schedule?” Answer: “klokje” (little clock). Okay, not super exciting – but you get the idea.

Or try a Lingo-style game: pick a five-letter word and let the other guess it with letter hints. Competitive teens will try to get it in the fewest tries.

This can be done on paper, phone, or just spoken. Teens who aren’t talkative might see this as a challenge rather than “we have to speak Dutch”.

For advanced teens, try pun battles: who can come up with the best wordplay in two languages? For example, a word with a funny double meaning in Dutch and English.

• Let the Teen Lead (invent the game) – A golden move with teens: let them make the rules.

Say: “Okay, your turn to invent a game where we speak Dutch.”

You’ll be surprised – maybe your teen invents a quiz on their favorite topic (in Dutch), or wants to play Twenty Questions because they already know it in English.

Give them autonomy, and they’ll feel respected. An expat teen new to Dutch might translate a favorite English game.

Once, a 12-year-old from an expat family in The Hague had us play “Heads Up!” but with Dutch words on the cards. It was a blast – and she loved explaining the rules (in Dutch!).

Moral of the story: teens love to show what they can do – give them space and enjoy their creativity.

With teens, it’s all about connecting on their level.

Maybe these games won’t have you rolling with laughter like with toddlers, but the reward is seeing your teen effortlessly tell a story in Dutch or understand a clever pun.

You’ll create real connection in these often individualistic teen years. And yes – even if they start off moody, they usually warm up quickly (especially if the game involves funny dilemmas or music).

Final Thoughts – A Language Adventure, Wherever You Are

Whether you’re sitting in a hotel room in New York with a universal adapter or camping in a tent on the Veluwe, the Dutch language can always come along for the adventure.

The secret? Keep it playful and spontaneous. Language isn’t just learned from books – it comes alive when you laugh together at a made-up word, sing along to a silly song, or shout “Bingo!” after spotting a Dutch word on a traffic sign.

With these games, you show your (expat) child that language is fun – and something you share. That may be the greatest gift of all.

Keep encouraging and praising them, even if an English word sneaks in or their sentence structure isn’t perfect. Every moment your child thinks or speaks in Dutch is valuable. Be patient – some days they’ll be excited, and others less so. That’s normal.

On our Dutch for Kids website (specializing in Dutch lessons for expat children), we regularly share tips and materials. Websites like Ouders van Nu and Het Klokhuis also offer fun ideas to support language development.

Take advantage of those resources – and mix them with your own creativity.

Warm wishes and lots of language fun! 🎉

Hopefully, these word games will make your trips and vacations fly by – and help your children’s Dutch blossom through play.

Don’t forget to enjoy the journey – and each other’s company – in two (or more) languages. You might just create memories they’ll one day look back on with a smile (and maybe a hint of a Dutch accent).