Folk Music of Netherlands

The Dutch traditional music is described by simple straightforward bass motives that are heavily supplemented with fast, melody and happy. The uncommon among other European folk in Dutch music is the bass line and not the melody and it is the musical line that is danced to. This means that the music itself may sound fast and the dances are usually quite moderate to a slow tempo. The dances itself are mainly group dances rather than individual or dual dances. Clogs are frequently worn in the case of the dance; though, Dutch clog dancing is very diverse from its new counterpart. This is almost impossible to perform highly active dances with Dutch clogs which are entirely made from wood and not only just the sole but also make the clogs to function as an additional percussion by inscribing rhythms.

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In the beginning of the 19^th century, the rural Dutch folk began to move into different cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam which bring with them the folk customs. Many of their songs and dances, though, started to decrease its fame. In the early beginning of the 20^th century the number of the urban intellectuals migrated to other side of the country to record with the local artists, which make the process similar in other European countries like Spain.

In the 70s, the Netherlands underwent a roots renewal which is led by artists such as Gerard van Maasakkers, Jos Koning, RK Veulpoepers BV, Wolverlei, Fungus and Dommelvolk. All the numerous folk songs that were performed by these artists were collected by Cobi Schreijer and Ate Doornbosch and it was later broadcasted on his radio program known as Onder de groene linde under the green lime.

 It was later in the 1974 that the Dutch folk renewal pointed and a year later they marked their first recording of fungus and the birth of Wargaren from the band Pitchwheel.

The normal popularity of the Dutch roots renewal was short-lived but it still continues in Friesland where a handful of groups began with the Irolt in the mid-1970s and sang in the West Frisian language. The music of the Frisian folk has lasted thus, and helped in part by the Aaipop Festival in Nvlan and the annual festival in Joure. The festival of Joure’s which was established in 1955 and the participants dress the pattern of 19^th century-style clothes and perform the traditional music and dance like the skotsploech bands.

Moluccan-Dutch artists like Tala Mena Siwa and the Moluccan Moods Orchestra have gained some success in the pop-based Moluccan music while kaseko which is a style from the previous Dutch colony of Suriname has also seen the normal fame, mainly due to artists like Carlo Jones and William Souvenir.

In the initial period of the 21^st century there was an increase of neofolk by ensembles such as H.E.R.R and Omnia.