Leading Dutch-language rock, soul and rhythm & blues band from Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
De Dijk was formed in 1981 by drummer Daniel Derks and the Van Der Lubbe brothers. The market for Dutch-language music has much improved and although the single 'Bloedend Hart' fails to enter the Dutch chart, the group's 1982 debut album 'De Dijk' is very successful. The second album 'Nooit Meer Tarzan' is released in 1983. Keyboard player Pim Kops and drummer Antonie Broek join De Dijk. 'Nooit Meer Tarzan' is less successful than De Dijk's debut and as a result record company Dureco ends the band's contract. In 1985 they released the third album 'Elke Dag Een Nieuwe Hoed' on the Telstar label. The album receives favourable reviews. In 1987 De Dijk signs to Phonogram. The single 'Mag Het Licht Uit' enters the Dutch Top 40. The 4th album 'Wakker In Een Vreemde Wereld' receives a Zilveren Harp Music Award. The 5th album 'Niemand In De Stad' is released in 1989 and 2 songs from this album 'Ik Kan Het Niet Alleen' and 'Nergens Goed Voor' are big Top 40 hits. In 1990 the group plays at the New Music Seminar in New York and they released a live album. 'Nooit Genoeg' is the name of the 6th album that was released in 1991. In 1992 the 7th album 'Zeven Levens' comes out. In 1993 De Dijk and fellow Dutch language rockers The Scene recorded a single called 'De Wereld Is Van Iedereen'. In 1994 the group receives a Gouden Harp Music Award. The 8th album 'De Blauwe Schuit' comes out. A single from this album, 'Als Ze Er Niet Is', is the group's biggest hit so far. In 1995 De Dijk records the single 'Heb Je Het Hart', which will later appear on the album 'De Stand Van De Maan' in 1997. The group plays gigs in St. Petersburg and Moscow in 1996. In 1998 the compilation 'Het Beste Van De Dijk' and the live album 'Voor De Tover' are released. A photo exhibition about the band can be seen in the Melkweg in Amsterdam that year. With the year 2000 a new century is coming and De Dijk plays at the Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf for the first time in the band's career. They also released the album 'Zevende Hemel'. In 2002 De Dijk celebrates its 20th anniversary. In June the band plays at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, supported by Dutch dialect rockers Skik. The single 'Ga In Mijn Schoenen Staan', their take on Joe South's 1969 classic 'Walk A Mile In My Shoes' and the album 'Muzikanten Dansen Niet' are released. The album enters the Dutch Album Top 100 chart at number one. In 2003 De Dijk released the DVD and CD 'Door'. These recordings are recorded partly acoustic and contains many of the De Dijk songs. After a sabbatical year in 2004, De Dijk receives in January 2005 an Edison Music Award for their entire work.