Pretty Little Dutch Girl

"Pretty Little Dutch Girl" is a children's song, clapping game, and jump-rope rhyme whose exact origins remain largely unknown, though the earliest documented record dates back to New York around the 1940s. From there, it quickly gained popularity across the United States by the 1950s and arrived in Britain in 1959, where it became a favored skipping rhyme among girls. The melody bears a strong resemblance to other children's tunes such as "A Sailor Went to Sea" and "Miss Suzie Had A Steamboat." The narrative typically centers on a "pretty little Dutch girl" dressed in traditional Dutch attire including braids with ribbons, wooden shoes, and a Dutch cap, who is admired by boys and often has a boyfriend who may not be as appealing as she is. Lyrics vary significantly across versions, with some depicting scenarios where the boyfriend leaves her for another girl, or where the Dutch girl asserts herself against mistreatment. The rhyme has been featured in children's entertainment including the Wee Sing Video Series and the 1977 Australian animated film "Dot and the Kangaroo," and is recognized in the Roud Folk Song Index with the number 12986.