Information
This page contains useful links about Dutch jazz landscape in general.
Use the table of contents below to go directly to the topic your searching for and find useful links.
Heritage
Festivals
Clubs & Venues
Education
Labels, publishers & agencies
Awards & assignments
Support & Funding
Media
Heritage
Jazz music in the Netherlands has been firmly rooted in general music life since the Second World War. Although initially more influenced by the American jazz traditions, over the years a Dutch School (Hollandse School) developed, which is characterized by its anti-establishment attitude. Nowadays Dutch Jazz music is more international and limitless than ever before, with artists using electronics and borrowing ideas from various genres and traditions. For a more comprehensive insight into Dutch Jazz heritage and history, take a look at the links below.
European Jazz Network
Jazz Helden
Jazzarchief
van de Leur, W. (2018). The Reception and Development of Jazz in the Netherlands (1945–1970s). In Politics and Cultures of Liberation (pp. 177-191). Brill.
Festivals
Throughout the year a great number of jazz festivals are organised in the Netherlands. This ranges from renowned international festivals such as NN North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz in Duketown and North Sea Round Town to smaller local festivals. For a more comprehensive overview of the jazz festivals in the Netherlands, check our Dutch jazz list and/or VNJJ.
Clubs & Venues
Currently, around 80 municipalities in the Netherlands have clubs and venues that organise jazz concerts throughout the year. This varies from renowned international names such as BIMHUIS, PaRaDoX and LantarenVenster, to small volunteer initiatives spread out throughout the entire country.
Find most clubs & venues from the Netherlands in our Dutch jazz list.
VNJJ
BIMHUIS
TivoliVredenburg
LantarenVenster
Paradox Tilburg
Willem Twee Toonzaal
Brebl
Brouwerij Martinus
Education
The Netherlands has 11 conservatoires spread throughout the entire country, 10 of which have a department specialised in jazz music. Moreover, the University of Amsterdam and Utrecht University provide courses on jazz in their Musicology departments. Besides this, various artist hubs exist and composers can participate in various composition assignments.
ArtEZ Conservatorium Arnhem
ArtEZ Conservatorium Enschede
ArtEZ Conservatorium Zwolle
Codarts Rotterdam
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
Conservatorium Haarlem
Conservatorium Maastricht
Fontys Academy of the Arts (Tilburg)
HKU Utrechts Conservatorium
Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag
Prins Claus Conservatorium (Groningen)
Labels, publishers & agencies
If a comprehensive overview of all Dutch jazz labels would exist, it would include names such as DOX Records, Challenge Records, Timeless, Criss Cross, OAP Records and ZenneZ Records. The NVPI is the branch organisation of film distributors and music producers and represents the majority of Dutch music companies and publishers of audiovisual content, both through online and physical media. The NMUV represents the interests of music publishers. It provides information and advice to its members in legal, fiscal and economic areas. MOJO Concerts is the biggest promoter and booking agency of major pop and jazz festivals and concerts. Dox is also an international agency, and a publisher. Booking agency Good Music Company and music manager Danielle Oosterop focus on international artists, while boutique agency Stroom Management works with jazz and global sounds from the Netherlands. Susanna von Canon is managing ICP Orchestra and booking agent for a.o. Han Bennink and Eric Vloeimans.
Awards & assignments
The most important prize for Dutch jazz and improvised music is the Boy Edgar Prize, named after Dutch jazz conductor, pianist and trumpet player Boy Edgar. Another important award is The Paul Acket Award which is awarded annually by North Sea Jazz Festival to an international jazz musician who deserves wide recognition. A number of Dutch conservatoires celebrate the originality of its students and alumni with an award of some kind. Moreover, composers can participate in various composition assignments provided by organisations such as Gaudeamus or Keep an Eye Foundation.
Boy Edgar Prize
North Sea Jazz Composition
Maastricht Jazz Awards
BIMHUIS productions
Keep an Eye The Records
The Records on Tour
Prinses Christina Jazz Concours
Dutch Jazz Competition
Edisons Jazz
Support & Funding
The Dutch public funding system for the arts has divided responsibilities between the national government on one side and the provinces and municipalities on the other. Cities mostly fund their local theatres and venues. The national government supports artists and ensembles with various funding programs. The Performing Arts Fund NL is the major public fund that provides structural funding for bands and ensembles in four-year cycles. It also subsidises projects, various scholarships for individual musicians and international tour support. Het Cultuurfonds is also a major private fund for projects and incidental funding for international tours.
Performing Arts Fund NL
Cultuurfonds
BumaStemra
Sena
NORMA
BIMpro
World Music Forum
Buma Cultuur
Media
Various media report on jazz activities in and outside of the Netherlands. These include print media such as Jazz Bulletin, online platforms such as Jazzism, New Music NOW, Bimhuis TV & Radio and inJazz (concert videos and inJazz Radio podcasts), and blogs such as Jazzflits, Jazz Radar, Jazzenzo and Draai om je oren. Several radio stations dedicated (some partially) to jazz music are NPO2 Soul & Jazz, World of Jazz, and Concertzender. Among other information, World of Jazz offers an overview of Dutch websites and -zines specialized in jazz and global sounds.
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the content is accurate and up to date, it may not be complete or exhaustive. No rights can be derived from the information on this website.