De Havenzangers
Encyclopedia
De Havenzangers were a Dutch musical group who had significant commercial success singing popular music in Dutch
. They were founded in Apeldoorn
in 1977, and had their first big hit with "'s Nachts na tweeën." De Havenzangers (lit., "harbour singers"), who specialized in "traditional Dutch sailor songs and carnival songs," had a long string of hit records and scored nine gold and seven platinum albums, and received an Edison Award for the album Ter Land Ter Zee en in 't Café. The Havenzangers (then consisting of Henk Pleket and Willem Mulder) split up in 2007, and Pleket continued solo.
, May 16, 1937), who sang at weddings and parties in the mid-1970s with a group called El Mondo Combo. In 1977, he renamed them De Havenzangers, and their first single, "Aan het strand stil en verlaten," was an immediate hit. Their debut album (with the same title) sold hundreds of thousands of copies. During the 1970s and 1980s, the group scored a succession of hits, including "Trouw niet voor je veertig bent" and "Rome, we komen" (a soccer song written on the occasion of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
).
In the 1990s, legal and financial trouble plagued the group, and Pleket was court-ordered to repay a large sum of money to the group's booking agency. By the early 2000s, the group consisted solely of Pleket and Willem Mulder, and stopped performing in 2008. One of their last recordings was a song by Dutch rapper Def Rhymz
("Schudden"), who in turn covered their first hit, "'s Nachts na tweeën." In 2009, because of Pleket's failing health, Pleket quit altogether—at that time, he was performing solo, as Havenzanger Henk Pleket.
Pleket was awarded with knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau
in 2003, as was his colleague Willem Mulder. He participated in the Dutch TV show De Afvallers
in 2007, and died on October 23, 2011 of cancer.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
. They were founded in Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
in 1977, and had their first big hit with "'s Nachts na tweeën." De Havenzangers (lit., "harbour singers"), who specialized in "traditional Dutch sailor songs and carnival songs," had a long string of hit records and scored nine gold and seven platinum albums, and received an Edison Award for the album Ter Land Ter Zee en in 't Café. The Havenzangers (then consisting of Henk Pleket and Willem Mulder) split up in 2007, and Pleket continued solo.
History
The band was started by singer and guitarist Henk Pleket (born in ArnhemArnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, May 16, 1937), who sang at weddings and parties in the mid-1970s with a group called El Mondo Combo. In 1977, he renamed them De Havenzangers, and their first single, "Aan het strand stil en verlaten," was an immediate hit. Their debut album (with the same title) sold hundreds of thousands of copies. During the 1970s and 1980s, the group scored a succession of hits, including "Trouw niet voor je veertig bent" and "Rome, we komen" (a soccer song written on the occasion of the 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
).
In the 1990s, legal and financial trouble plagued the group, and Pleket was court-ordered to repay a large sum of money to the group's booking agency. By the early 2000s, the group consisted solely of Pleket and Willem Mulder, and stopped performing in 2008. One of their last recordings was a song by Dutch rapper Def Rhymz
Def rhymz
Def Rhymz is a Dutch rapper. He is known for his sexist, funny raps. He was the first Dutch rapper ever to hit the number 1 spot on the Dutch charts, with two songs: Doekoe in 1999 and Schudden in 2001.- References :...
("Schudden"), who in turn covered their first hit, "'s Nachts na tweeën." In 2009, because of Pleket's failing health, Pleket quit altogether—at that time, he was performing solo, as Havenzanger Henk Pleket.
Pleket was awarded with knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau
Order of Orange-Nassau
The Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
in 2003, as was his colleague Willem Mulder. He participated in the Dutch TV show De Afvallers
The Biggest Loser (Netherlands TV series)
De Afvallers is a Dutch reality television series which first premiered on SBS 6. The series is a spin-off of the American reality television series The Biggest Loser and the SBS 6 weight-loss series Big Diet, which was canceled after two seasons due to low ratings.-Format:Over the course of three...
in 2007, and died on October 23, 2011 of cancer.