Western Europe
The sound of Netherlands
Two distinct scenes that rarely overlap: a heavy progressive and symphonic metal tradition, and an electronic-dance industry large enough to be an actual industry.
629 artists in the catalog.
What Netherlands does that nowhere else does
Genres far more common here than across the rest of the catalog. The multiplier is how much more common, weighted by how many artists carry it.
Five records to start with
Not a canon — a way in. Each one links to what it is, who it's for and where to go next.
Dutch artists worth walking into
Ordered by how much we can tell you, not just by how well-known they are.
Epica
symphonic metal
Where to start →Within Temptation
alternative metal · gothic metal
Where to start →Tiësto
deep house · electro house
Where to start →Anouk
pop rock · rock music
Where to start →BLØF
Nederpop · pop music
Where to start →Herman van Veen
chanson · classical music
Where to start →Marco Borsato
Nederpop · pop music
Where to start →André Rieu
classical music · waltz
Where to start →Frans Bauer
Levenslied · pop music
Where to start →Cornelis Vreeswijk
blues · traditional folk music
Where to start →2 Unlimited
Eurodance · techno
Where to start →