“It is also a bit of the age. If you last long enough, you will automatically receive an oeuvre prize,” says the 78-year-old artist in conversation with the ANP.
André van Duin causes havoc in Bollenstreek Thinking of Holland when recordings: “You can never go here again!”
Music a reason to get up
“I also lasted for a long time. More than sixty years. There are not so many artists who still do this nowadays,” explains Van Duin. “There are no longer really long careers nowadays. It used to be important to have a very long career. Now you make a few hits. It has changed. I am proud of myself.”
Van Duin says he is still full of energy and still with pleasure to make music. “You must always have a reason to get up in the morning. It is nice to be appreciated and recognized.”
‘Stamp on Dutch culture’
The organization announced with the prize to pay a tribute “to someone who has made us laugh, move and bring us for decades.” Director Frank Helmink of Buma Cultuur says it is “no more than right” that Van Duin was named a Dutch master as an artist who “left his mark on Dutch culture” in so many ways.
During his career, André van Duin was number 1 in the Dutch -language top 20. He achieved the Top 40 with 41 songs, three of which ended up at number 1. The Buma Hollandse Meesters Awards have been awarded since 2016. The prize was previously received by, among others, Guus Meeuwis, Jan Smit and Emile Hartkamp.