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Dutch pop songs, ballads, chansons, with music and translation
Over 175 well-known Dutch songs translated in English
With music !
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Dutch songs 1900-1940's
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Dutch songs from the fifties
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Dutch songs from the sixties
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Dutch songs from the seventies
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Dutch songs from the eighties
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Dutch songs from the nineties
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Dutch songs from the years 2000
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Dutch songs from the years 2010 onward
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Songs for special occasions
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Search
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Album art of the record
Tulips from Amsterdam and
Next to that windmill (1956).
About Dutch pop songs, ballads and chansons
(Dutch songs since 1900)
The (Dutch) singing and music tradition changed enormously from the 20th century onward. Since the emergence of the gramophone and LP records, radio's, cassette tapes, cd's, music television channels, videoclips, car head units, walkmans/discmans/iPods and other developments, the singing culture changed from an oral tradition -people singing themselves- to a primarily listening tradition -people listen to performing artists-.
The first well-known performers of Dutch songs, in the 1910's-1930's, were artists like Louis Davids, Willy Derby and Lou Bandy. Most of them started as street singer or as revue artist in the theatre. Besides the theatre they became well-known from the radio and/or records.
From these street songs and theatre songs traditions, developed three genres in the area of the Dutch songs:
(1) The theatre song or 'cabaret song' ('cabaretlied'). This Dutch 'cabaret' is very popular in the Netherlands since the 1950's. It's usually a one man show, and the cabaretier tells a story or series of anecdotes (personal or critical about politics/society or just hilarious) with jokes and songs. This kind of Dutch theatre ('cabaret') evolved out of French cafes, where poets, singers, philosophers and other artists, presented their work. The songs that are sung during a cabaret show, are very similar to the songs that were sung during revue shows (1910's-1940's) - the songs can be funny, cheerful, sentimental, contemplative or even moralistic.
(2) The chanson or 'listening song' ('luisterlied'). These songs are similar to the French singing tradition: the content is poetic-narrative, the music melodious. The singers don't sing pop songs and don't perform at pop festivals. Used musical instruments are often a piano, an acoustic guitar or classical instruments, like a violin.
These first two types of Dutch songs (cabaret songs and chansons) are called 'small art' ('kleinkunst'). This term refers to the small, intimite setting of a stage in a theatre. Especially ment are quality songs from the theatre or on records.
(3) The third genre is the 'life song' ('levenslied'): these are songs about the common people and the problems, misery and hardship of daily life. The singers of these 'life songs' are called 'singers for the common people' ('volkszangers'). The songs are usually sung lamenting with whines and whimpers, and with an Amsterdam accent. Used instruments are often accordions. This kind of song originates from -mainly Amsterdam- cafes. When the 'life song' is about terrible misery, especially when a loved one passed away, it's then called a 'smartlap' (a tear-jerker, a sob song).
In the fifties and sixties pop music became very popular, first of all of English speaking artists. In their footsteps also Dutch pop and rock was made (for example by Peter Koelewijn), but most Dutch artists sang in English (The Cats, Shocking Blue, Golden Earring and many others). It's not until the 1980's that (4) Dutch singing pop groups became very popular ('Netherpop'/'Nederpop'), including Doe Maar, Het Goede Doel, Drukwerk, Frank Boeijen, Klein Orkest and others. Most common in Dutch pop are disco (four counts with a beat on every count, meant for dancing) and ballads, other sub-genres are less common, like rock, country, reggea and rap.
But still most artists in the Netherlands sing exclusively or mainly in English, like: Anita Meyer, Lee Towers, The Blue Diamonds, Dolly Dots, Luv', Maywood, Pussycat, The Cats, BZN, Earth & Fire, Shocking Blue, Golden Earring, Gruppo Sportivo, Kayak, Herman Brood, George Baker, Mathilde Santing, Do, Dana Winner, Petra Berger, 2 Unlimited, Jacqueline Govaert (Krezip), Roel van Velzen, Ilse de Lange, Waylon, Anouk, Leona Philippo, Shirma Rouse, Glennis Grace, O'g3ne, Mr. Probz, Caro Emerald and many more. So, although they're famous and successful pop stars, they are not included on this website.
This website gives a general picture of the Dutch song since 1900. The more than 175 selected songs (revue songs, cabaret songs, chansons, 'life songs', tear-jerkers, pop songs and ballads) are especially songs that were:
• hits that reached the Top 40 or the Top 2000 • songs that became evergreens, people will still be able to sing along • the most well-known song of famous singers/cabaret artists that never had a big Top 40 hit • songs from smaller sub-genres like rock, country, rap, shanty songs, etc. • famous songs about the Netherlands, Dutch cities/provinces or other typical Dutch subjects • and songs in Dutch regional languages (dialects) that are well-known in at least the province concerned.
Of course, this website will never be complete. The included singers always have other songs that are also well-known - or beautiful. Many more Dutch-singing artists haven't (yet) got a place on this website, although they also might have songs worth listening. The expression is: to choose is to lose - and to keep the website limited, accessible and easy-viewed, asked sometimes for hard, or even painful decisions. Nevertheless I hope this website with over 175 translated pop songs, ballads and chansons, will give a good and clear overview of the most famous Dutch songs and Dutch singers since 1900.
By Rozemarijn van Leeuwen
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What is..?
terminology of Dutch song research
Revue song / theatre song
The revue was a kind of theatre that was popular in the Netherlands in the 1901's-1940's. It consisted of big dance shows, songs, funny skits or even magicians and acrobats.
Famous singers: Louis Davids, Heintje Davids, Willy Derby, Lou Bandy, Fien de la Mar, Sylvain Poons and Snip & Snap. List of Dutch revue songs.
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Cabaret song / theatre song
Dutch 'cabaret' is a kind of theatre in which someone, often in a one man show, tells a story or series of anecdotes (personal or critical about politics/society or just hilarious) with jokes and songs.
This evolved out of French cafes, where poets, singers, philosophers and other artists, presented their work. It became very popular in the Netherlands since the 1950's and still is.
Cabaret songs are very similar to the songs that were sung during revue shows - the songs can be funny, cheerful, sentimental, contemplative or even moralistic.
Famous singers: Toon Hermans, Wim Sonneveld, Frans Halsema, Brigitte Kaandorp, Claudia de Breij, Youp van 't Hek, Herman Finkers and Karin Bloemen. List of Dutch cabaret songs.
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Small art ('kleinkunst')
The word 'small art'/'kleinkunst' refers to the small, intimite setting of a stage in a theatre. This includes especially theatre shows and songs of high quality, like a cabaret show or a chanson.
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Dutch chanson ('luisterlied'/'listening song')
In French, a 'chanson' simply means 'song'. In Dutch it means a song that's similar to the French singing tradition: the content is poetic-narrative, the music melodious (supporting the singing, so not too loud).
It's sung (since the 1960's) in theatres and released on albums, by artists who don't sing pop songs or perform at pop podiums or pop festivals. Used musical instruments are often a piano, an acoustic guitar or classical instruments, like a violin, contrabass, flute or harp.
Famous singers: Boudewijn de Groot, Herman van Veen, Liesbeth List, Ramses Shaffy, Willeke Alberti, Paul de Leeuw and Lenny Kuhr. List of Dutch chansons.
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Song in regional language (dialect)
The current Standard Dutch (a West Germanic language) derived from Low Franconian, Friso-Franconian and Low Saxon languages.
Nowadays six groups of dialects are distinguished in the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Belgium): Hollands; Zeeuws/West-Vlaams; Nedersaksisch (Gronings, Twents, Achterhoeks); Utrechts; Brabants/Limburgs/Oost-Vlaams; and Limburgs.
Each group is subdivided in regional dialects and city dialects. Regional languages usually don't correspond exactely with the borders of the 12 provinces.
Since the 1970's there is a big growth of songs in dialect, both chansons and pop/rock music. The band Normaal (Achterhooks) is considered the beginning of the dialect pop and the farmer's rock. Ede Staal was a pioneer in singing chansons in dialect. The province of Limburg has a strong, old tradition of carnival songs in dialect.
Usually the dialect singers are well-known within their province or region and not necessarily nationwide. Only a few bands/singers became nationally famous, like Normaal, De Kast, Twarres and Daniël Lohues. They all scored hits in the Top 40 - although the greater part of the Dutchmen couldn't (easily) understand their lyrics.
Famous singers: Normaal, Ede Staal, Frits Rademacher, Piet Brakman, Skik, De Kast, Twarres, Bobbejaan Schoepen, Herman Finkers, Mannenkoor Karrespoor, Herman Berkien, Beppie Kraft, Rowwen Hèze and Daniël Lohues. All translated songs in dialect.
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Kinderen voor Kinderen
'Children for Children' (1980) is a Dutch national children's choir. Every year, since 1980, they release an album with new children's songs for the age of 8 till 13.
The songs are written by well-known songwriters, lyricists and composers, who normally write chansons, cabaret songs or even pop songs/ballads. The choir won over 15 Diamond/Platinum/Golden Albums, had seven Top 40 hits, and one song was even voted into the Top 2000.
Some well-known contributors: Harry Bannink, Herman Pieter de Boer, Jan Boerstoel, Claudia de Breij, Rob Chrispijn, Hans Dorrestijn, Tonny Eyk, Jack Gadellaa, Toon Hermans, Harry Jekkers, Lenny Kuhr, Robert Long, Joop Stokkermans, Henk Temming, Henk Westbroek, Willem Wilmink and Ivo de Wijs.
List Children for Children songs.
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'Life song' ('levenslied')
A 'life song'/'levenslied' is a song about the common people and the problems, misery and hardship of daily life. This is usually sung lamenting with whines and whimpers, with an Amsterdam accent, often accompanied by accordions.
The singers are called 'singers for the common people'/'volkszangers'. The genre originates from singers in -mainly Amsterdam- pubs, especially since the 1950's (but goes even back to the streetsingers in the 1901's-1930's).
Famous singers: Willy Alberti, Johnny Jordaan, Corry en de Rekels, Zangeres Zonder Naam, Tante Leen, Manke Nelis and André Hazes. List of Dutch 'life songs'.
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'Smartlap' (tear-jerker)
A 'smartlap' (a kind of tear-jerker or a sob song) is a special kind of 'life song'. The word derived from 'smachtlap' (being sentimental, melodramatic, longing, hankering). It's especially used for a 'life song' in which a loved one dies or has died; or in which other terrible misery happens, like illness, poverty or unbearable heartache.
Famous songs: 'White roses' (Willy Derby) and 'The kite' (André Hazes).
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Dutch pop song
Pop music is popular music on the radio, on cd's and on festivals, usually uptempo, specially aiming at teenagers and young adults. The band usually consists of electric guitar, bass guitar, synthesizer and drums.
Very common in Dutch pop is disco (four counts with a beat on every count, ment for dancing). Less common in Dutch are sub-genres like rock, country, hillbilly, honky-tonk, boogiewoogie, punk, reggea and rap.
Famous singers: Marco Borsato, Guus Meeuwis, Henk Westbroek, Stef Bos, Peter Koelewijn, De Dijk, Volumia, Bløf and Jan Smit. List of Dutch pop songs.
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Dutch Netherpop/Nederpop (1980's)
'Netherpop'/'Nederpop' refers to the sudden growth of Dutch language pop music in the Netherlands in the eighties. In the 1960's/1970's, Dutch pop singers always sang in English (still most Dutch pop artists use exclusively or mostly English).
Famous singers: Doe Maar, Frank Boeijen, Drukwerk, Klein Orkest, Hans de Booij, Bloem and Het Goede Doel. List of Dutch 'Nederpop' songs.
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Ballad
A ballad is a pop song with a low tempo and a melodious melody. The song is often about love. It's sung by pop artists who perform at pop podiums or pop festivals.
List of Dutch ballads.
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The Dutch Top 2000
The Top 2000 is an annual Dutch marathon radio programme, playing the 2000 most popular pop songs: all time, all languages. The broadcast runs from the day after Christmas, until New Year's Eve (24/7) on Radio 2. The first edition was in 1999. The Dutch public can vote in December - up to 3,5 million people vote.
Most of the chosen songs are in English. Almost every year in the top of the list are: Queen ('Bohemian Rhapsody', 14 times number 1); The Eagles ('Hotel California', 2 times number 1), Deep Purple ('Child in Time', 3 times number 2) and John Lennon ('Imagine', 1 time number 1). Also the Dutch song 'Avond', Boudewijn de Groot, was 1 time the number 1 (in 2005; and 14 times in top 10).
High scoring Dutch songs are (the highest position ever is mentioned): (1) Boudewijn de Groot, 'Avond'; (4) Claudio de Breij, 'Mag ik dan bij jou'; (6) Ramses Shaffy, Liesbeth List, 'Pastorale'; (7) Ramses Shaffy, 'Zing, vecht'; (10) Ramses Shaffy, 'Laat me'; (21) Racoon, 'Oceaan'; (22) Guus Meeuwis, 'Brabant'; (28) Stef Bos, 'Papa; (29) Wim Sonneveld, 'Het dorp'; (30) André Hazes, 'Zij gelooft in mij'; (31) Boudewijn de Groot, 'Testament'; (32) Klein Orkest, 'Over de muur'; (36) Frans Halsema, 'Voor haar'; (36) Acda en De Munnik, 'Niet of nooit geweest'; (47) Boudewijn de Groot, 'Verdronken vlinder'. This list is not complete.
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Find all translated Dutch songs
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Album art of the record
Yes nurse, no nurse (ca. 1968)
by Annie M.G. Schmidt and Harry Bannink.
Where to start?
Top 25 Dutch songs
What are the most famous Dutch songs to start with?
The best introduction to 100 years of Dutch music.
Album art of the record
You & me, 24 top hits (1972)
by Willy and Willeke Alberti.
Find all translated
Dutch pop songs, ballads, chansons
listed in categories:
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Dutch shanty songs
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Dutch songs about the weather
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Songs about the Royal Family
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Willeke Alberti
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Album art of the record
Toon Hermans, One-man show (1969).
The most famous and well-known Dutch songs
biggest hits, all with video clip
and English translation:
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From Testament
(Testament of my youth)
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up to Tulpen uit Amsterdam
(Tulips from Amsterdam)
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From Ik geef je een roosje, m'n Roosje
(I give you a rose, my dear Rosy )
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up to Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
(Along the canals of Amsterdam)
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From Als de klok van Arnemuiden
(When the church bell of Arnemuiden)
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up to Alles kan een mens gelukkig maken
(Everything can make a person happy)
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Album art of the record
For the survivors (1966)
by Boudewijn de Groot and Lennaert Nijgh.
Search all Dutch pop songs, chansons
alphabetically / genres / themes
singers / songwriters
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 Didn't you find the song you were looking for?
Visit our Dutch websites with Dutch songtexts:
Over 3000 Dutch and English songtexts
of well-known songs in The Netherlands:
www.songteksten.overtuin.net
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Joey Holowaty,
Music Things
(ca. 2009).
welkom ~ herzlich willkommen ~ bienvenue ~ bienvenido
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