Editing Culture of the Netherlands (section)

===Music and dance===
{{main|Music of the Netherlands|Music of Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles|Dance in the Netherlands}}
The Netherlands has diverse [[music]]al traditions, ranging from folk and dance to classical music and ballet. Traditional Dutch music is a genre known as [[levenslied]], meaning 'song of life', to an extent comparable to French [[chanson]] or German [[Schlager music|schlager]]. These songs typically have a simple melody and rhythm, and a straightforward structure of couplets and refrains. Themes can be light, but are often sentimental and include [[love]], [[death]] and [[loneliness]]. Traditional musical instruments such as the [[accordion]] and the [[barrel organ]] are a staple of levenslied music, though in recent years, many artists also use synthesizers and guitars. Artists in this genre include [[Jan Smit (singer)|Jan Smit]], [[Frans Bauer]] and the late [[André Hazes]].
[[Image:Anouk at fesival mundial 2008.JPG|thumb|Rock singer [[Anouk (singer)|Anouk]] at Festival Mundial in 2008]]
More than most other non-English speaking European countries, the Netherlands has remained closely in tune with US and British trends since the 1950s. Contemporary Dutch [[Rock music|rock]] and [[pop music]] ([[Nederpop]]) originated in the 1960s, heavily influenced by popular music from the [[United States|USA]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. In the 1960s and 1970s, the lyrics were mostly in English, and some tracks were instrumental. Bands such as [[Shocking Blue]], (the) [[Golden Earring]] and [[Focus (band)|Focus]] enjoyed international success. As of the 1980s, more and more pop musicians started working in the Dutch language, partly inspired by the huge success of the band [[Doe Maar]]. Today, Dutch rock and pop music thrives in both languages, with some artists recording in both.<br /> Current [[symphonic metal]] bands [[Epica (band)|Epica]] and [[Within Temptation]], as well as [[jazz]]/pop singer [[Caro Emerald]] are having some international success. Contemporary local icons include rock singer [[Anouk (singer)|Anouk]], country pop singer [[Ilse DeLange]], rock band [[Kane (Dutch band)|Kane]] and Dutch-language duo [[Nick & Simon]].

Early 1990s Dutch and [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[house music]] came together in [[Eurodance]] project [[2 Unlimited]]. Selling 18 million records,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/2-unlimited-mn0000431439/biography |title=2 Unlimited &#124; Biography &#124; AllMusic |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref> the two singers in the band are the most successful Dutch music artists to this day. Tracks like "[[Get Ready for This]]" are still popular themes of U.S. sports events, like the [[NHL]]. In the mid 1990s Dutch language [[Hip hop music|rap and hip hop]] (''[[Dutch hip hop|Nederhop]]'') also came to maturation and has become popular in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the 21st century, artists with North African, Caribbean and Middle Eastern origins have profoundly influenced this genre.

Since the 1990s, Dutch [[electronic dance music]] (EDM) has conquered the world in many forms, from [[trance music|trance]], [[techno]] and [[gabber]] to [[hardstyle]]. Some of the world's best dance music DJs hail from the Netherlands, including [[Armin van Buuren]], [[Tiësto]], [[Hardwell]], [[Martin Garrix]] and [[Afrojack]]; the first four of which have been ranked as best in the world by [[DJ Mag Top 100 DJs]]. The [[Amsterdam dance event]] (ADE) is the world's leading electronic music conference and the biggest club festival for the many electronic subgenres on the planet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.local-life.com/amsterdam/articles/amsterdam-dance-event |title=Amsterdam Dance Event - ADE - Amsterdam Life |website=Local-life.com |access-date=2 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dutchdailynews.com/the-international-dance-industry-assembles-in-amsterdam-next-week/ |title=The international Dance industry assembles in Amsterdam next week |date=12 October 2012 |website=Dutchdailynews.com |access-date=2 August 2017}}</ref> These artists also contribute significantly to the mainstream pop music played over the airwaves all around the world, as they frequently collaborate and produce for many notable artists.

In [[classical music]], [[Jan Sweelinck]] ranks as the Netherlands' most famous composer, with [[Louis Andriessen]] amongst the best-known living Dutch classical composers. Celebrated Dutch conductors, past and present, include [[Willem Mengelberg]], [[Eduard van Beinum]], [[Bernard Haitink]], [[Jac van Steen]] and [[Jaap van Zweden]]. Notable violinists are [[Janine Jansen]] and [[André Rieu]]. The latter, together with his Johann Strauss Orchestra, has taken classical and [[Waltz (music)|waltz music]] on worldwide concert tours, the size and revenue of which are otherwise only seen from the world's biggest rock and pop music acts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://press.andrerieu.com/tag/international/page/2/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118042556/http://press.andrerieu.com/tag/international/page/2/ |archive-date=18 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266418/top-25-tours-of-2009 |title=Top 25 Tours of 2009|website=Press.andrerieu.com |date=11 December 2009|access-date=2 August 2017}}</ref> Acclaimed harpist [[Lavinia Meijer]] in 2012 released an album of works by [[Philip Glass]] that she transcribed for harp, with the approval of the composer.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/philip-glass-metamorphosis-the-hours-mw0002435025 Lavinia Meijer - Philip Glass: Metamorphosis & The Hours], Allmusic.com</ref> The [[Concertgebouw, Amsterdam|Concertgebouw]] (completed in 1888) in Amsterdam is home to the [[Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra]], considered one of the world's finest orchestras and on occasion voted the best of all.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97291390 |title=Chicago Symphony Tops U.S. Orchestras |website=Npr.org |access-date=2 August 2017}}</ref>

[[Aruba]] and the five main islands of the [[Netherlands Antilles]] are part of the [[Lesser Antilles]] island chain. Their music is a mixture of [[indigenous peoples|native]], [[African music|African]] and Dutch elements, and is closely connected with trends from neighbouring islands like [[Barbados]], [[Martinique]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]] and [[Guadeloupe]], as well as the mainland former Dutch possession of [[Suriname]], which has exported [[kaseko]] music to great success on the islands. Curaçao and Bonaire likely have the most active and well-known music scenes. Curaçao is known for a kind of music called [[Tumba (music)|tumba]], which is named after the conga drums that accompany it.