Pop music

   Subgenre of popular music that covers many types of modern music since the second half of the 20th century. Originally the term was a synonym of “rock ’n’ roll,” which became popular during the 1950s. In common with other (mainly Western) countries, many Dutch pop groups and solo artists entered the scene. In the 1960s, commercial radio stations broadcasting from the North Sea, in particular Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee, strongly promoted this music. These “pirate” stations were forced to stop their activities in 1974. However, their charts were incorporated into the public broadcasting system. Radio Veronica even succeeded in entering the Dutch system as one of the typical broadcasting corporations. Though most Dutch bands played English songs, only some of them became successful abroad, for example, Golden Earring, Shocking Blue, the Cats, Earth & Fire, BZN, and Kayak. In the 1980s, the term “Nederpop” was introduced for several bands that performed only Dutch songs, for instance, Doe Maar, Het Goede Doel, De Dijk, Frank Boeijen Groep, and De Kast (which also performed Frisian hits). Boudewijn de Groot (1944– ) is regarded as one of the greatest Dutch singers. Each year many open-air festivals are held, such as Pinkpop (at Geleen and Landgraaf in Limburg, since 1970) and Parkpop (in The Hague, since 1981, free of charge). After the intro duction of the so-called house music during the 1990s in Dutch discotheques, dance festivals like Dance Valley (at Spaarnwoude in Noord-Holland, since 1995), also became crowded events. The pres ent multicultural society has led to a typical Dutch urban scene.

   See also TIESTO (DJ).