Several hundred fans and other interested parties came to the funeral home in Zwartemeer tonight at 7 p.m. to say goodbye to singer Henk de Roo of The Dutch Boys. ‘Farmer Harms’ died last Thursday at the age of 69 after it became known in October this year that he was suffering from esophageal cancer.
In front of the building where everyone could go to pay their last respects to De Roo, the hits of the Dutch Boys could be heard loudly, while photos were shown on a large screen. The funeral home was busy for much of the evening.
De Roo became known in the 1980s as one of the three singers of the pirate trio The Dutch Boys with Cor Maatje and Jans Hoogeveen. With the single Eppo the band achieved its first success. Follow-up Farmer Harms the big breakthrough for the South-East Drenthe music group. De Roo played the role of Farmer Harms by riding a tractor while wearing his characteristic yellow earplugs.
In 1988 De Roo parted ways with The Dutch Boys, but the band stopped in the 1990s. But in 2019 there was a revival. The Dutch Boys returned, in the original line-up. In recent years, the band members have been welcome guests at various pirate festivals throughout the country.
In October, The Dutch Boys performed at the Mega Pirate Festival in Klazienaveen. It would be the last ‘home match’ for De Roo.
Family and loved ones will say goodbye to De Roo in a private circle tomorrow.