Mon, 6 September 2010
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We look at the story behind a website which helps alternative music lovers find a way out of the Dutch music scene.
Nowadays people of all ages usually spend some time living and working abroad. Apart from their new working environment and the obvious cultural and culinary differences, a lot of new arrivals - especially those from English-speaking countries – will notice that the music scene in the Netherlands isn't quite the same as back home. It's a bit like entering a time-warp, where the vast majority of music played in cafés and bars or on the radio, or sold in high street record shops seems to be stuck in the 80's.
For those accustomed to BBC Radio 1 evening sessions or Radio Xfm, arriving in the Netherlands will be a shock to the system. I mean, here is a country that in 2007 still gives frequent and preferential radio play to commercial hits from the 70's and 80's, with the likes of Queen, Rolling Stones, Spandau Ballet, Genesis and Boney M dominating the play lists.
Reasons for the time-warp
There are various views on why the music scene in The Netherlands hasn't developed like the majority of other European countries. One theory is that the people who decide what gets played or shown, such as DJ's, promoters and agents, would probably be considered out of touch in a lot of other countries.
The majority of established radio DJ's currently operating in Holland are all in their late 30's/early 40's. They grew up during the 70's and 80's at a time when life in Holland was prosperous and relatively safe. For instance, few Dutch kids got to hear about or experience the punk scene in the 70's.
Creating tension
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