Baldwin de Groot

Boudewijn de Groot is one of the most important Dutch-language singers that our country has ever produced.

Although Boudewijn de Groot had become fascinated by music early on thanks to singers like Jaap Fisher and Jacques Brel, he initially seemed to aspire to a future in film. He attended film school with Lennaert Nijgh. However, his first songs caught the eye of a record company employee, who landed him a contract. He would continue to collaborate with Lennaert Nijgh for decades, providing the lyrics for the melodies Boudewijn de Groot subsequently wrote for them.

His debut album, simply titled "Boudewijn de Groot," was released in 1965 and featured a mix of original songs and covers of songs by artists like Bob Dylan and Donovan, who were the young singer's influences at the time. He found his own voice with his second album, "Voor De Overlevenden," a classic in Dutch pop. Influenced by the psychedelic era, he released the equally iconic album "Picknick" in 1967, still with Lennaert Nijgh at his side.

Almost as a reaction to this colorful album, he released the dark, occult Nacht En Ontij in 1969. It marked the beginning of a period in which the singer embarked on new adventures, from his own English-language songs to productions for other bands and artists. In 1973, he made a strong comeback with the album Hoe Sterk Is De Eenzame Fietser (How Strong Is The Lonely Cyclist), which included the hit "Jimmy." During the same period, he—along with Lennaert Nijgh—revived Rob de Nijs's career, resulting in the albums In De Uren Van De Middag (In the Hours of the Midday) and Kijken Hoe Het Morgen Wordt (Watching How It Will Be Tomorrow).

In the decades that followed, Boudewijn de Groot continued to perform and release albums, albeit with increasingly longer intervals. One of his later highlights was "Van Een Afstand" (From a Distance), featuring the hit "Tip Van De Sluier." "Een Nieuwe Herfst" (A New Autumn), released in 1996 and to which Lennaert Nijgh, as always, had made a significant contribution, marked his comeback. Incidentally, the lyricist would pass away in 2002.

In recent years, Boudewijn de Groot has been more productive than ever. His 2015 album "Achter Glas" (Behind Glass) was followed by two albums with the "supergroup" Vreemde Kostgangers (Rare Kostgangers), which also included Hennie Vrienten of Doe Maar and George Kooymans of Golden Earring. In 2018, he also released his own album, "Even Weg," on which he was accompanied by the cover band The Dutch Eagles.

Boudewijn de Groot is now considered one of the most important singers our country has ever produced. A refined stylist who brought Dutch pop music to maturity. A source of inspiration for many who use the Dutch language. He received recognition for this, among other things, when the Dutch-language band The Kik toured, performing "Voor De Overlevenden" and "Picknick" in their entirety – with the express blessing of the master himself. A recording of one of those shows was also released on LP and CD in 2019: Boudewijn de Groot's "Voor De Overlevenden & Picknick Live." The loving interpretations of Dave von Raven and The Kik once again demonstrated the consistently high quality of Boudewijn de Groot and Lennaert Nijgh's songs, especially on these classic albums.

At Platenzaak.nl we have many CDs and LPs by Boudewijn de Groot, including his latest album.