The Netherlands is surely not known for its good cuisine (though we owe stroopwafels an apology), but no one can deny that we are not a memorable crowd of people. Think for example about the orange-filled streets during the UEFA Euro 2024, where ‘Links Rechts’ from Dutch artist Snollebollekes gained international fame. Or think about Joost Klein who surely received a lot of support and attention earlier this year with his song ‘Europapa’. One thing we can’t deny is that the Netherlands is full of talented and promising artists. Today we are sharing 5 artists from the Netherlands we think you should check out!

Starting off strong with arguably one of the most popular Dutch bands at the moment – Son Mieux. The indie pop band has a Silk Sonic-esque style and consists of seven members. Using a variety of instruments in their live shows and with the charisma of front man Camiel, they are bound to put on a show bursting with energy every single time. With extravagant outfits and incredible light productions, you can recognise them on every stage. If you’re just getting into their music, we recommend the energising songs ‘1992’ and ‘Tell Me More’, or the more heartfelt ballad ‘Tonight’.

Moving on to one of the smallest artists on this list, Philine. Gaining the support of Dutch radio stations over the past years, Philine has carefully been crafting her own sound and her musical expression of her thoughts. According to herself, her songs are translations from moments when she is stuck inside her own head in a wave of overthinking and imagination, creating stories but missing the reality around her. Luckily for us, Philine is a true lyrical magician and invites us to tag along to her thoughts and emotions through her songs. Check out her songs ‘needy as hell’ and recently released ‘talking to myself’ for more!

Rotterdam-based indie band Elephant should definitely be on your radar for its unique blend of indie pop and rock. Their music is known for its ability to balance upbeat, energetic tracks with more melancholic songs. Elephant’s songwriting and performance reflects a modern yet nostalgic sound, combining recent and older music inspirations. With 28K monthly listeners on Spotify, they are still solidifying their place in the Dutch indie music scene. We recommend you listen to ‘Hometown’ and ‘The Morning’.

We are staying in the indie scene with Orange Skyline, which was formed during a car ride after Oasis’ last performance. It is therefore no surprise that the sound of this band is much like that of Liam and Noel Gallagher – a combination of Britpop and rock throughout their discography. Their song ‘A Fire’ gained popularity when it was played during the Dutch TV broadcast of the Olympic Winter Games in 2022. Having multiple Dutch radio “Top Songs”, Orange Skyline is slowly but surely spreading the indie Britpop agenda throughout the Netherlands. Make sure to have a listen to ‘A Fire’ and ‘Shine On’. 

Last, but not least, we are introducing Sophia. Having won The Voice Kids with her original song ‘Alaska’ in 2020, as a 17 year old, it became clear that Sophia is an incredibly musically gifted artist. Her smooth voice brings the emotion in her songs right to your core. Sophia takes inspiration from artists such as Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Noah Cyrus and Billie Eilish, and we can surely hear the latter in her music. Sophia truly is the girl next door and maybe that is what makes her so likeable, next to her incredible talent of course. Do not hesitate to listen to ‘Perfume’ and ‘Lalaland’