He was one of the ‘pirate kings’ of the Netherlands. Henk de Roo, better known as ‘Boer Harms’ from The Dutch Boys. With his characteristic blue overalls and bright yellow earmuffs, he was the face of the Drenthe pirate trio from Zwartemeer for many years. But for Boer Harms it will never be disco again. De Roo died last night at the age of 69.
The adventure of The Dutch Boys begins in 1972. Henk de Roo, Cor Maatje and Jans Hoogeveen became friends and had a dream: making music. Under the name The Thunderballs, the trio previously caused a stir in the South-eastern Drenthe music world, but the real breakthrough came after the name change. After destroying the local bars for a number of years, their popularity shot through the roof in 1980. Single Eppo becomes a hit in the Netherlands. Drenthe has a new hit machine.
The music of De Roo, Hoogeveen and Maatje is characterized by humorous lyrics and appealing characters. You can say that the accessibility of the music is the basis for the band’s popularity.
In 1982 the group managed to reach new heights. The number Farmer Harms is released and becomes a top-10 hit in the National Hit Parade. In the clip, recorded during a broadcast of Op Volle Toeren with Chiel Montagne, De Roo drives into the TROS studio on a blue tractor from the Iseki brand. Dressed in his characteristic outfit. A new phenomenon was born: Boer Harms.
‘I’m farmer Harms and I’m from Drenthe and I love disco’. The lyrics are simple and sing along nicely. Not only in the Netherlands, also in Belgium. Suddenly De Roo, Maatje and Hoogeveen are famous. They can be seen everywhere on posters, cards and photos. “Like Farmer Harms and his family, with their crazy “toaltien”, farmer’s simple rhythms and sing-along choruses, the trio quickly became so famous that they immediately raked together a gold record in Belgium – which takes less effort there than here – and will soon have another The German version is being released. More than sixty thousand singles have now been sold,” writes the Nieuwsblad van het Noorden in 1982.
After Boer Harms, hits like Mien Zwien and America and Olde Pekela. The lyrics are simple and easy to sing along to, the source of the success. In the North it is a cult, in the West they can laugh about it.
In 1988, De Roo said goodbye to his alter ego Boer Harms. He stops with the Dutch Boys. Cause: health problems. The band called it quits at the end of the nineties. But the blood creeps where it can’t go. In 2019, The Dutch Boys will reunite in their original line-up and perform again.
Like the melody of the song Farmer Harms becomes popular on TikTok in 2020, the band is experiencing a new revival. Henk de Roo, Cor Maatje and Jans Hoogeveen are welcome guests in party tents and at pirate festivals. Until the beginning of October it becomes known that De Roo is suffering from esophageal cancer. Yet the stage animal doesn’t want to stop.
“Henk wouldn’t be Henk if he didn’t necessarily want to continue performing with Cor and Jans,” said The Dutch Boys. That is why he will be ‘normal’ on stage on October 19 during the Mega Pirate Festijn in Klazienaveen. He also enters the studio with his band and Mooi Wark for a collaboration. It is Boer Harms’ last trick. De Roo’s health condition no longer allows…
The single came out last night I’ll never be drunk again officially out. De Roo did not live to see it. Yet Boer Harms was still able to experience the scoop. The song made its radio debut a few days ago.