De Havenzangers
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 in Apeldoorn, Netherlands |
| Founder | Henk Pleket, Willem Mulder |
| Defunct | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Apeldoorn , Netherlands |
| Products | Music recordings, live performances |
De Havenzangers was a musical ensemble from the Netherlands, established in Apeldoorn in 1977, that gained significant commercial acclaim performing popular songs in Dutch. Their breakthrough single was "'s Nachts na tweeën." Focusing primarily on traditional Dutch sailor tunes and carnival melodies, the group earned nine gold and seven platinum records, along with an Edison Award for their album Ter Land Ter Zee en in 't Café. Initially formed by Henk Pleket and Willem Mulder, the band dissolved in 2007, with Pleket pursuing a solo career afterward.
History
The group was initiated by vocalist and guitarist Henk Pleket (born in Arnhem on May 16, 1937), who had formerly been part of El Mondo Combo. De Havenzangers began their journey in 1977 with the successful single "Aan het strand stil en verlaten," which was also the title of their debut album that achieved strong sales. During the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, they released multiple popular tracks such as "Trouw niet voor je veertig bent" and created the official song for the 1990 FIFA World Cup titled "Rome, we komen."
Trumpeter Harry Nijkamp was a member from 1989 until 1995 before moving to the United States. In the late 1990s, the band encountered legal and financial difficulties, including a court mandate requiring Pleket to reimburse their booking agency. By the early 2000s, only Pleket and Mulder remained active within the group, which ceased performing in 2008. One of their last undertakings involved collaborating with rapper Def Rhymz, who produced a rendition of "'s Nachts na tweeën," while De Havenzangers recorded his song "Schudden." Due to health complications, Pleket concluded his solo career in 2009.
In recognition of their contributions, both Pleket and Mulder were honored as knights in the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2003. Pleket made an appearance on the Dutch television program De Afvallers in 2007 and later succumbed to cancer on October 23, 2011.