It has taken me more than a decade to start appreciating Dutch music. Living in the Caribbean, I grew up with salsa, merengue, bachata, zouk, reggae and reggaeton. Apart from all the great Caribbean and Latin American musicians my parents played Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell. There was very little Dutch music in our house growing up and when we moved to the Netherlands I did not understand what all the fuss was about. To be honest, nine times out of ten, I still don’t. But over the past few years I have found a couple of crazy talented Dutch singers that make beautiful Dutch songs. Today I am sharing my top 5.

Eefje de Visser – Luister

I love Eefje de Visser. I could probably fill this entire top five with her poetic music. She was the first Dutch singing artist I liked and Eefje was the first Dutch record I ever bought, a few years ago. Her voice is very dreamy and soothing and her lyrics are poems. “Luister” (“Listen”) is my favorite Eefje de Visser song. I used some of the lyrics for the wedding speech I gave at my best friends wedding, because they resonated with all the years I’ve known her.

Clean Pete – Geheimen

This is such a sweet song. The lyrics are funny and endearing and sad at the same time. It feels young and fickle and it reminds me of a time, when I was in my late teens, a time full of confusion and “not knowing”. I don’t own Clean Pete’s album, because I haven’t found any other songs of them I like, but this song “Geheimen” (“Secrets”) is beautiful.

Maaike Ouboter – Dat ik je mis

I don’t think there is a Dutch person that hasn’t cried (several times) listening to this song. The first time we heard it was during a Singer Songwriter contest. In “Dat ik je mis” (“That I miss you”) Maaike is singing about missing her parents. She is an orphan, which is… well, I’m not even going to try and describe what that must be like. The song is so sad and beautiful, but also incredibly comforting and relatable. Her other songs are also soft and powerful at the same time. She is pretty darn amazing.

Also listen to 5 Existential Songs That Will Make you Feel Alive

Wende Snijders – Laat me

I heard Wende’s rendition of “Vivre” 7,5 years ago, when I was working in Curacao and it went straight to my heart. It is one of those existential songs that millions of people can relate to: just leave me be, this is me, I will never change. But Wende turns it into something that is even more powerful. She has an incredible voice, but she is also so expressive and compelling. Her music is a force, an inspiration. She is like a rare creature: you want to study her, be near her, understand her and at the same time you feel a bit intimidated by her impact.

Claudia de Breij – Dat is van je hou

This song has become bittersweet for me. It was one of our wedding songs (the other one was Oh Love, by Ane Brun, which we walked down the aisle to). This song by Claudia de Breij was performed by one of my maids of honor. She was one of my best friends but she walked out of my life when I became a mom. So even though I still love this song it also reminds me of the pain I feel about a lost friendship.

Want more?

I realize everyone in my top 5 is female. So here are a few more, by male singers. Because there were a few Dutch songs I did hear and liked as a kid. My dad used to play “Testament” by Boudewijn de Groot and “Het dorp” by Wim Sonneveld. And I always thought Herman van Veen and Blof had a very soothing voices. And one of my best friends introduced me to “Groot Hart” from De Dijk.

Of course there are many, many more talented Dutch artists. But most of the ones I like, sing in English. This was just a little tribute and introduction to Dutch music, lyrics and singers.

Enjoy!