Dutch Music & Dance Styles: Electronic, Dutch Disco, and Traditional Folk

The Netherlands is famous for electronic dance music (EDM), traditional folk dances in wooden shoes, and every Dutch person singing Dutch folk songs at birthdays.

1. Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

• The Netherlands is the world capital of EDM

• Famous Dutch DJs: Tiësto, Martin Garrix, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Hardwell

• Festivals: Tomorrowland (Belgium but many Dutch DJs), Mysteryland (oldest electronic festival in Netherlands), Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

• Biggest festival in Netherlands: Awakenings (techno), Defqon.1 (hardstyle)

• Dutch invented hardstyle (fast, heavy bass, melodic) and gabber (very fast, 150-180 BPM)

2. Dutch Folk Dance (Klompendans)

• Traditional dance in wooden shoes (klompen)

• Danced at festivals, parades, and special events

• Shoes are hollowed out (makes loud clicking sound)

• Dancers wear traditional Dutch costumes (Volksklederdracht)

• Women: long skirts, lace caps, striped aprons

• Men: baggy black pants, long jackets, metal buttons

3. Dutch Disco (Nederdisco)

• Dutch pop music sung in Dutch (1970s-1980s golden era)

• Famous bands: Doe Maar (ska/reggae), BZN, Het Goede Doel, Toontje Lager

• Modern Dutch pop: Frans Bauer (folk pop), Snelle, Davina Michelle, Suzan & Freek

• "Lekker Nederlands" (tastily Dutch) – simple, catchy, sing-along

• Every Dutch person knows "Het Dorp" (The Village) by Wim Sonneveld (monumental song)

• Used at birthdays, car drives, and nostalgic parties

4. Levenslied (Dutch Folk Song)

• "Song of life" – emotional, simple, sing-along

• Themes: love, heartbreak, mother, death, homesickness

• Famous singers: André Hazes (legend), Willy Alberti, Johnny Jordaan

• André Hazes' "Zij Gelooft in Mij" (She Believes in Me) is Dutch national anthem of folk

• Sung at every Dutch birthday party (after 4 beers)

• Usually played with accordion or simple keyboard

5. Dutch Hip Hop (Nederhop)

• Dutch rap (1970s-1980s beginnings, exploded 2000s)

• Famous artists: De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, Lil Kleine, Ronnie Flex, Frenna, Boef

• Lyrics in Dutch (sometimes street language, Moroccan or Surinamese influences)

• Themes: party, love, struggle, street life

• Very popular with young people (10-30 years old)

• Ronnie Flex & Lil Kleine's "Drank & Drugs" (2015) was biggest Dutch hip hop hit

6. Dutch Drill (Drill Muziek)

• Subgenre of hip hop from London (drill), adapted to Netherlands (2015+)

• Fast hi-hats, dark bass, aggressive lyrics

• Famous drill artists: 73 De Pijp, MocroManiac, SFB, Yung Felix

• Often controversial (lyrics about drugs, weapons, street crime)

• Police have banned some drill songs (inciting violence)

• Very popular in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht (young males 15-25)