They continue to perform without prejudice. The Dutch Boys has settled as a evergreen Among the Drenthe music groups. And that era continues with Hendry de Roo as a frontman. “It was continuing with Hendry, or stop.”
No, they are no longer on stage six times a week. But after the loss of frontman Henk de Roo, the band happily continues. With the replacement son Hendry, who acts with almost the same characteristic voice as his father. This way The Dutch Boys remain as recognizable as in their heyday.
It was never his greatest, pronounced wish. But the closely stakeholder band members had a preference. Their choice fell on Hendry who could follow in the footsteps of his father, ‘Boer Harms’.
“I never really thought about it,” says Hendry in the Radio Drenthe program Hemmeltied. “Sure it is sometimes said between nose and lips. But I said: you only do it as long as possible“, he reconstructs the conversations with his father, at the time he was still in good health.
The gap that Henk left behind at the end of last year, after the death of the effects of esophageal cancer, was finally filled. A few phone calls and a good conversation at the kitchen table were needed to persuade Hendry. “It’s nice to be allowed to do, although I was very nervous for the first performance,” he acknowledges. “But it’s a beautiful activity. And the reactions are only positive.”
The Dutch Boys do not seem to have an expiration date. Their origin goes back to the early eighties, band members Cor Maatje and Jans Hoogeveen say as yesterday. They were fully in their teenage years. “What we did? Take out mischief.” With a guitar, drum and accordion, they went from half songs to the release of their first single: Marjoram. Later the big breakthrough followed with Eppo and Farmer Harms.
In this way The Dutch Boys remain a welcome guest at Pirate Festivals and more festive occasions. With one of ‘De Roo’ as a permanent radiant center.