Amsterdam crooner Andre Hazes dies

23 September 2004

AMSTERDAM — Andre Hazes, one of the best-loved Dutch crooners, died on Thursday morning.

Andre Hazes – the voice
of Amsterdam

Hazes, 53, was rushed to Hofpoort hospital in Woerden on Wednesday. He was admitted to intensive care suffering from a high fever and pneumonia.

Members of his family rushed home from holiday in Spain because his condition was so bad. He died of a heart attack at about 9.30am on Thursday, his family confirmed.

Hazes was a diabetic and battled with alcoholism for several years.

Dutch pop singer Marco Borsato summed up the feelings of many people on Thursday when he said “the Netherlands has lost an icon”.

Hazes was born into a poor family in the Pijp district of Amsterdam in 1951. He was discovered by a television presenter eight years later when he was singing at the city’s Albert Cuyp market to earn money to buy his mother a present.

He had several hits in the 1970s and 1980s and despite a turbulent career — due in part to his alcohol addiction — he has always been much loved by the Dutch public.

His big break through came in 1981 with the hit “Een Beetje Verliefd”, which propelled him to the top of his profession.

In the lead up to the European Championship finals in 1988, Hazes recorded the song “Wij Houden Van Oranje”, or We love (the) Orange, in honour of the Dutch soccer team. Holland clinched the trophy and his song has become something of a second national anthem among Dutch soccer supporters, Novum Nieuws reported.

Despite a troubled private life, the crooner never seemed to go out of fashion and his concerts were often sold out.

Plans for his funeral have yet to be announced, but it will certainly attract thousands of fans.

Subject: Dutch news