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Sinterklaas bingo: music bingo for the Dutch December tradition

Sinterklaas is the Dutch celebration in early December, and its songs are so familiar that almost every child and adult in the Netherlands knows them by heart. That makes a Sinterklaas bingo one of the few games where nothing has to be explained.

At school, at home or at an office party with children, this theme works beautifully. If you have recently moved to the Netherlands it is also a quick way to learn the songs everyone around you grew up with.

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For children: small and short

Pick a 3 by 3 card and a twenty-minute round. Everyone completes a row quickly and attention stays where you want it. Larger letters on the card help young readers a great deal.

For adults: the nostalgic version

At an office gathering the songs work surprisingly well as a wink. Add the ones everybody remembers from childhood and combine it with a gift round: the winner opens the first present.

Prizes that choose themselves

With this theme you do not have to think about prizes: chocolate letters, spiced biscuits, marzipan and one small gift for the full card. Four rounds, four prizes.

Example songs for this theme

For inspiration: these are songs that tend to work well with this theme. You are not tied to any of them — you build your own list, so use them, extend them or ignore them completely.

• Sinterklaas Kapoentje — traditional
• Zie ginds komt de stoomboot — traditional
• Hij komt, hij komt — traditional
• Sinterklaasje kom maar binnen — traditional
• De zak van Sinterklaas — traditional
• Wie komt er ons huisje binnen — traditional
• O kom er eens kijken — traditional
• Dag Sinterklaasje — traditional

How to make this music bingo yourself

Hosting your own music bingo

Traditional bingo uses numbers; this game uses songs, and that one twist is what makes it fun. There is no number to look up: people listen to the opening seconds, recognise the hit and players mark it off. You do not need a professional host or a trivia round to warm the room up, because the music does that for you. Most people know far more songs than they think.

Decide first what you want the evening to be. A short game of three rounds is perfect before dinner; a complete night of 90 minutes suits a party, a company event or a musical theme night. Whether your crowd grew up on the 90s or on last summer's charts, use their own music instead of a generic list: the best selection is the one where every player recognises something — a classic, a guilty pleasure, a recent hit. That is what gets people out of their seats.

The format is easy. Create the list, choose the card size and the win pattern, and give everyone a card with the song titles printed on it. Each song is played once, in a random order. The first person to fill a whole line shouts bingo, and the host verifies that call with the code along the side. Guests who would rather not use paper join online at bingobanger.party with your game code. Small prizes per round keep the energy up, and they do not have to be expensive.

Questions, or want a hand hosting your first game? Email robin@kreatrix.nl and we will get back to you within a working day. The app is free, six cards included.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Sinterklaas bingo?

A music bingo where the cards are filled with traditional Dutch Sinterklaas songs instead of numbers.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. Choose a 3 by 3 card and a short round of about twenty minutes.

Can I use this at school?

Certainly. Print a unique card for every child and play as a class with a speaker.

How many songs do I need?

For a short twenty-minute round you need about 25 songs.

More music bingo

Browse the other themes, or read on the main page how to make your own music bingo in ten minutes.

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