Nits, originally established as The Nits (and sometimes still credited as s… Read Full Bio ↴Nits, originally established as The Nits (and sometimes still credited as such today, even though the article was dropped in 1987), are a Dutch art rock group, established in 1974 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Their musical style has varied considerably over the years, as has their line-up with the core of Henk Hofstede (vocals, guitar, also the band's lyricist), Rob Kloet (drums, percussion) and Robert Jan Stips (keyboards; also had stints in Supersister, Gruppo Sportivo and Golden Earring).
Although most of the band's songs are sung in English, Nits have been praised as a group that is 'European' more than anything else, staying relatively far away from American and British influences. They are an 'album band', not a 'singles band', although they had a number of considerable hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The biggest hit in their native Netherlands was "Nescio" (1983), a tribute to the Dutch author Jan Hendrik Frederik Grönloh a.k.a. Nescio. The hit that brought the band to the attention of an international audience was "In the Dutch Mountains" (1987), which has become their signature song.
The band released dozens of studio albums, from The Nits (1978) to the triptych Angst, Knot and Neon in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Three of their studio albums reached the top 10 of the Dutch album charts, but their highest charting album was the 1989 double live album, Urk, which hit #2 in The Netherlands and still stands as a near-perfect introduction to the group's work.
On 16 May 2022 the band's own studio and 'headquarters', De Werf in Amsterdam, burned down. The group's archives, as well as many instruments and master tapes, went up in flames. Hofstede sings about the tragedy on 2024's mini album, Tree House Fire. Its release marked the start of Nits' anniversary year: the band celebrated its 50th anniversary with an international tour and two special performances in Amsterdam's Carré Theatre in April.
Their musical style has varied considerably over the years, as has their line-up with the core of Henk Hofstede (vocals, guitar, also the band's lyricist), Rob Kloet (drums, percussion) and Robert Jan Stips (keyboards; also had stints in Supersister, Gruppo Sportivo and Golden Earring).
Although most of the band's songs are sung in English, Nits have been praised as a group that is 'European' more than anything else, staying relatively far away from American and British influences. They are an 'album band', not a 'singles band', although they had a number of considerable hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The biggest hit in their native Netherlands was "Nescio" (1983), a tribute to the Dutch author Jan Hendrik Frederik Grönloh a.k.a. Nescio. The hit that brought the band to the attention of an international audience was "In the Dutch Mountains" (1987), which has become their signature song.
The band released dozens of studio albums, from The Nits (1978) to the triptych Angst, Knot and Neon in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Three of their studio albums reached the top 10 of the Dutch album charts, but their highest charting album was the 1989 double live album, Urk, which hit #2 in The Netherlands and still stands as a near-perfect introduction to the group's work.
On 16 May 2022 the band's own studio and 'headquarters', De Werf in Amsterdam, burned down. The group's archives, as well as many instruments and master tapes, went up in flames. Hofstede sings about the tragedy on 2024's mini album, Tree House Fire. Its release marked the start of Nits' anniversary year: the band celebrated its 50th anniversary with an international tour and two special performances in Amsterdam's Carré Theatre in April.
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Urk
Nits Lyrics
A Touch Of Henry Moore Sometimes I hear the hammer on steel Sometimes I hear the…
Adieu Sweet Bahnhof I have been waiting for hours in this train And I'm…
An Eating House (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) Car is driving through the…
Bike In Head Wake me up, sunray On this bright sunny summer day Leave m…
Cabins I'm taking my time I am travelling I am travelling You ta…
Home Before Dark Another car is stopping for gas Be careful with that burnin…
In The Dutch Mountains I was born in the valley of bricks Where the river…
J.O.S. Days The war monument is still standing Between two football fiel…
Mask Cover up the pretty faces Cover up the eyes and the…
Mountain Jan (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) We are proud of Jan We are…
Nescio Nescio Questo paradi-, questo paradiso Nescio Nella bocca de…
Pelican & Penguin (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) My aunt is living in the c…
Port Of Amsterdam We're sailing on an ocean On an ocean And the time flies …
Red Tape She was always thinking That the others were the losers An…
Shadow of a Doubt Oh I'm undecided What I'm going to do now Have to think…
Sketches Of Spain The streets of Barcelona are filled with blood and rain The…
Slip of the Tongue Beware of the slip of the tongue Don't say nothing When th…
Telephone Song (45623-6278-16109-11555) Give me your number And I'll give…
The Bauhaus Chair Suddenly you came to see me After all those years You said…
The Dream I was walking down A sunny street in town In a dream She…
The House I spent some time alone In an old country home Where the…
The Panorama Man (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) Who brings the cars of Mic…
The Swimmer (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) Here comes the replay of a…
The Train Once on a cold grey morning I was walking home alone The…
Tons of Ink Only rich men can buy Things that poor men can make You've…
Two Skaters (Hofstede/Kloet/Stips - Hofstede) Two skaters on an icecream…
Under a Canoe I roll up the sleeves Can she bake a cathedral Under a…