You could say that listening to Dutch music for the first time is like taking your first sip of wine. It’s a taste that you initially cringe at, but as the years go by, you learn to love it.
Soon enough you’ll catch yourself happily humming the tunes as you potter around your room or clumsily screaming them at the top of your lungs — depending on the amount of alcohol in your system.
As with any cultural phenomenon, studying Dutch music can tell us a lot about life in the Netherlands.
Barrel organs and DJs aside, here are 11 classic Dutch songs to help you familiarise yourself with both the Dutch language and people.
1. Bloed, Zweet en Tranen — Andre Hazes: a canonical treasure
Translated as “Blood, Sweat and Tears,” this song elicits a response in Dutchies that we can only describe as akin to your father’s reaction to any Bruce Springsteen song after a few pints.
Things get tearful and somber, yet also loud and comforting all at once.
What’s also great about this song is that it’s really easy to understand if you’re beginning to learn Dutch.
Hazes sings in a slow and deliberate manner, which is great for eager-to-learn internationals (and those who may be singing along after a few drinks).
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik heb geluk gekend, Maar ook verdriet gekend Hoe vaak stootte ik m’n kop Maar toch, ik ben tevreden met alles wat ik ben Als je roem voorbij is, Moet je kijken wie je nog kent | I’ve known happiness But also sadness Many times I did it wrong But I’m happy with everything I have If your fame is gone, See the friends you have left |
2. Wilhelmus: not just an anthem, THE anthem
If there is any other national anthem that will make the straight-talking Dutch more tearful and sombre than Bloed, Zweet en Tranen, it’s Wilhelmus.
Luckily, the Netherlands is not a country that will disown you if you don’t know a word of the national anthem.
However, I’d recommend familiarising yourself with this one just so that you may one day knock the socks off your Dutch friends with your mad integration skills.
This video even offers English subtitles under the Dutch lyrics, but we’ve popped them below because we’re sure you’re dying to practice this one. 😉
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Ben ick van Duytschen bloet, Den Vaderlant getrouwe Blyf ick tot in den doot: Een Prince van Oraengien Ben ick vrij onverveert, Den Coninck van Hispaengien Heb ick altijt gheeert | William of Nassau am I, of German blood. Loyal to the fatherland I will remain until I die. A prince of Orange am I, free and fearless. The king of Spain I have always honoured. |
3. Drank en Drugs— Lil Kleine, Ronnie Flex: a Dutch song that became a viral anthem
If you’re looking to familiarise yourself with Dutch music that doesn’t date back to the year 1572, then another anthem-of-sorts that we can offer you is Drank en Drugs.
This quirky song (with an equally quirky music video) offers some interesting insight into contemporary Dutch popular culture (and humour.)
READ MORE | We need to talk about Dutch music, even though it hurts
This anthropological artefact of a bop became internationally recognised, after going viral on TikTok — cue flashbacks to unsuspecting 12-year-olds dancing to a song about drinking and drugs.
Here are the most PG-friendly lyrics that we can offer a translation of…
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Als je bitch wil chillen, is het geen probleem Dan ga ik erheen, ik kom niet alleen Want ik heb drank en drugs Ik heb drank en drugs | If your bitch wants to chill, it’s not a problem, Then I will go there, I won’t come alone, Because I have booze and drugs I have booze and drugs |
4. Zoutelande — BLØF ft. Geike Arnaert: the Dutch song that caused a tourism boom
Although it was originally performed in German and only released in Dutch in 2017, this song has become a modern Dutch classic.
In fact, it was so popular that it actually brought a tourism boom to the Dutch seaside tourist resort of Zoutelande, after which it is named.
The lyrics for this one are much more wholesome…
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| En dan zitten we hier in het oude strandhuis Wat je vertelt houdt me nuchter en warm Boven m’n hoofd zie ik de grijze wolken Ik ben blij dat je hier bent, blij dat je hier bent | And so we sit here in the old beach house What you tell me keeps me sober and warm Above my head I see the grey clouds I’m happy you’re here, happy you’re here |
5. Parijs — Kenny B: speak Dutch with me!
If you’re looking for a more inventive way of expressing “Nederlands alstublieft”, then look no further. You can even break into song and sing “Praat Nederlands met mij” as if seducing a woman on the streets of Paris.
If that’s a bit too much for you, then at least you have learned another way of politely asking Dutchies to bear with your rudimentary remix of their language.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Praat Nederlands met me. Even Nederlands met me. Mijn gevoel zegt mij dat wij vanavond samen kijken Naar de Champs-Élysées en naar de Notre Dame en naar de Seine. En daarna samen landen op Schiphol. | Speak Dutch with me A little Dutch with me My feeling tells me that tonight we will look together At the Champs-Élysées and at Notre Dame and at the Seine And then land together at Schiphol |
Also, can we just appreciate that Kenny B was already well in his fifties in this video!? Could’ve fooled us! 😳
6. Traag — Bizzey ft. Jozo & Kraantje Pappie: a song no Dutch club is complete without
As an Irish person listening to this song, I think the best way to describe it is through a comparison with Mr Brightside by The Killers.
The reactions to the two songs are strikingly similar — those first few notes hit, and everyone knows what’s up.
Not much can be said for the lyrics, but we’ll forgive them, given the absolute shape-throwing this song can elicit.
These were the least sexual lyrics I could find, I’m sorry.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Doe het voor me, doe het laag Het is niet moeilijk voor je, doe het traag Traag, traag, traag Traag, traag, traag Voel het voor me, voel het aan Proeven zal je, zoete laag Laag, laag, laag Laag, laag, laag | Do it for me, do it low It isn’t hard for you, do it slowly Slowly, slowly, slowly Slowly, slowly, slowly Feel it for me, sense it You will taste it, a sweet layer Low, low low Low, low low |
7. Ik Je Mis — Maaike Ouboter: the softest Dutch you have ever heard
Ahh, something to cleanse our ears. This song has to offer the Dutch language in its softest form.
Maaike Ouboter wrote the song about the passing of her parents and sang it for her audition on “De beste singer-songwriter van Nederland.”
The song was released after the episode broadcast and quickly shot to the number one position in the Dutch singles Top 100 charts — a position it stayed in for 36 weeks!
Think Taylor Swift — but Dutch, and sad.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Ik mis je Ik mis je Ik grijp je, ik gris je Ik wil je Bespeel je, Ik roer en beveel je om bij me te blijven In donkere nachten Niet meer te smachten naar jou | I miss you I miss you I grab you, I snatch you I want you Play you, I stir and command you to stay with me in dark nights To not long for you anymore |
8. Het Is Een Nacht — Guus Meeuwis: a staple within Dutch music
This is the sort of song that makes you sling your arm across someone’s shoulder and sway, regardless of whether or not they’re your best friend or someone who just happens to be standing closest to you.
The action is often reciprocated, and the result is a crowd of swaying bodies and arms, as you can see in the video below.
What’s also great about this song is how easy it is to sing along to!
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Het is een nacht Die je normaal alleen in films ziet Het is een nacht Die wordt bezongen in het mooiste lied Het is een nacht Waarvan ik dacht dat ik hem nooit beleven zou Maar vannacht beleef ik hem met jou | It is a night you normally only see in films It is a night which is sung in the most beautiful song It is a night Of which I never thought I would experience But tonight, I experience it with you |
9. Het Regent Zonnestralen: of course, a song about Dutch weather
In a country with weather as chaotic as the Netherlands, is it going to be 20 degrees and sunny or 10 degrees and raining? Who knows — it’s no surprise that the subject matter has infiltrated Dutch music.
Het Regent Zonnestralen (It’s Raining Sunbeams) could be a weather headline, but it is also a piece of classic Dutch music. It tells a sunny story of a man who decides to finally do what he wants with his life.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Als dit het is, is dit het Als dit het is, is dit het En we zullen het wel zien Oh, oh, oh, even rustig ademhalen Oh, oh, oh, lijkt of het regent als altijd Maar het regent en het regent zonnestralen | If this is it, this is it If this is it, this is it And we’ll see just what happens Oh, oh, oh, just breathe slowly Oh, oh, oh, seems like it’s raining like always But it’s raining, yes it’s raining sunbeams |
10. Lang Zal Ze Leven: for the ultimate Dutch birthday experience
Have you celebrated your birthday in the Netherlands? If you have, then you may have sat in that awkward way — what do I do with my hands? Do I smile the entire time? — as this song has been sung to you.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of this experience yet, then allow us to acquaint you with the Dutch “Happy Birthday.”
It’s really simple, even if you don’t have a word of Dutch, you should be able to sing this with no problem.
Fun fact: Lang Zal Ze Leven is often sung in the feminine, regardless of the gender of the birthday person.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Lang zal ze leven Lang zal ze leven Lang zal ze leven in de gloria In de gloria In de gloria | Long shall she live Long shall she live Long shall she live in the glory In the glory In the glory |
11. Quarantine: a song for the times
Speaking of birthdays, many of us probably spent ours in quarantine in 2020.
We can sum up the experience of many a quarantine birthday quite simply: you woke up, texted some friends, spent the entire day as you had been spending the days prior to that, and if you were lucky, there was some cake involved. (But no blowing out the candles! 😉)
Some people have proven to be quite productive during this time, such as the members of Fokke Simons, who came out with this tune.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| Fokke Simons in quarantaine Ik zeg je eerlijk, dat is even wennen Met de boys in quarantaine Maakt niet uit, ja we schoppen stennis Fokke Simons in quarantaine Geen contact, maar je kan me bellen Met de boys in quarantaine Maakt niet uit, ja we schoppen scenes | Fokke Simons in quarantine I tell you honestly, that takes some getting used to With the boys in quarantine Doesn’t matter, yes we kick up a fuss Fokke Simons in quarantine No contact, but you can call me With the boys in quarantine Doesn’t matter, yes we kick up a fuss |
What other must-have songs should be on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Aaaaawwww, you missed “Brabant” by Guus Meeuwis. IF there is such a thing as an “iconic Dutch song” then indeed that one belongs in such a category. Well OK, it’s somewhat more relevant for those residing in Noord Brabant perhaps.
MISSING SONGS:
Stef Bos – Papa
Van Dik Hout – Stil in mij
Sterrenstof – Jeugd van tegenwoordig
The writer being Irish explains why she didn’t include GOD ZEGEN NEDERLAND by Leo Fuld. I’m only descended from Dutch born parents but I can’t hear this with dry eyes. Luister eens.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK2vZ-b7acQ
Als der geen bier meer is, drinken we paarden pis, oh Heinekens bier, ….
As an 53 year old I would say skip Traag and replace it with 15 miljoen mensen van Fluitsma en van Thijn; that says so much about us Dutch and our ways of doing things!
And its still up to date after all these years
“Ze” in “Lang zal ze leven” seems like “they”
Guus en Vagant – Per Spoor … staple of Dutch A2 lessons, full of vivid imagery, and, dare I say it, poetry. “… de luwte van de nacht”
How is Frank Boeijen not on this list??
– Zeg me dat het niet zo is: will make you cry for certain
– Kronenburg Park
– Zwart Wit