Perhaps most famously, Van Veen was the creator of the Alfred Jodocus Kwak children's animation series of worldwide fame. Van Veen is an ambassador for UNICEF Nederland and a founding member of Colombine, Stichting Alfred Jodocus Kwak, Stichting Roos, and the Herman van Veen Foundation. All of these foundations are active for children's rights. In 2004 he received the World Peace Flame, a symbol of peace, freedom, unity and truth, inspired by the eternal flame, burning at the residence of Mahatma Gandhi. Since 2005 Herman van Veen has been ambassador for the 'Music in the Middle East' foundation.
In the 1960s, Van Veen studied the violin, singing and theory of musical education at Utrecht Conservatory. His career as a recording artist started in 1968. Some of his biggest Dutch hits are Opzij (1979), Hilversum 3 (1984), Anne (1986), Zo vrolijk (1986), Toveren (1987) and Blauwe plekken (1990), but he very rarely performs them live anymore. Most of his theatre concerts focus on recent material, as there always is plenty of it.
Amsterdam's famous Carré theatre is Van Veen's 'second home': he has more than 600 headline Carré shows to his name.
Van Veen lives with his wife Gaetane Bouchez, a female dancer, in Soest, The Netherlands. He has four children from previous mariages.
Hilversum 3
Herman van Veen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
had de slagersjongen nog een opera paraat
de metselaar kon zingend op de steiger staan
de melkboer lengde fluitend zijn melk een beetje aan
Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet
maar ieder had zijn eigen stem
Op elke steiger klonk een lied
Alle venters hadden eigen aria's
voor sprot en haring, voor begonia's
Zelfs in fabrieken kwam van overal
toch weer een liedje door de grote hal
Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet
maar ieder had zijn eigen stem
Op elke steiger klonk een lied
van Paljas of Jeruzalem
Tussen het geratel van machines door
klonk in de confectie een mooi meisjeskoor
dromend van de prins van.. weet ik veel
die ze zou ontvoeren naar zijn luchtkasteel
Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet
maar ieder had zijn eigen stem
Op elke steiger klonk een lied
van Paljas of Jeruzalem
Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet
maar ieder had zijn eigen stem
Op elke steiger klonk een lied
van Paljas of Jeruzalem
The lyrics to Herman van Veen's song "Hilversum 3" nostalgically reflect on a time when people sang and whistled in the streets. In the past, the butcher's boy had an opera ready, and the bricklayer would sing on the scaffolding, while the milkman would whistle a tune as he watered down the milk. The song describes how everyone had their own voice, their own unique sound. Whether it was on a scaffold or in a factory, there was always someone singing, and there was always music filling the air. The song mentions specific areas and people, such as Paljas and Jeruzalem, and how they would sing their songs on every building site.
The chorus repeats the line, "Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet," which means "Hilversum 3 didn't exist yet." Hilversum 3 was a popular Dutch radio station that started in the 1960s and was a significant part of the Dutch broadcasting landscape. The repetition of this line emphasizes the idea that, before the age of radio, everyone had their own voice, and they didn't need a radio station to find music.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of nostalgia, longing for a simpler time when people's voices were heard, and they sang from their hearts. The song portrays the idea that music was everywhere, and everyone had their unique sound, and the city was full of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Vroeger werd gezongen en gefloten in de straat
In the past, people used to sing and whistle on the streets
had de slagersjongen nog een opera paraat
The butcher boy still had an opera ready to perform
de metselaar kon zingend op de steiger staan
The bricklayer could stand on the scaffold singing
de melkboer lengde fluitend zijn melk een beetje aan
The milkman diluted his milk while whistling
Alle venters hadden eigen aria's
All vendors had their own arias
voor sprot en haring, voor begonia's
For sprat and herring, for begonias
Zelfs in fabrieken kwam van overal
Even in factories, from everywhere
toch weer een liedje door de grote hal
A song still echoed through the big hall
Tussen het geratel van machines door
Amidst the clatter of machines
klonk in de confectie een mooi meisjeskoor
A beautiful girls' choir sounded in the garment factory
dromend van de prins van.. weet ik veel
Dreaming of the prince of... I don't know
die ze zou ontvoeren naar zijn luchtkasteel
Who would abduct them to his castle in the air
Hilversum 3 bestond nog niet
Hilversum 3 didn't exist yet
maar ieder had zijn eigen stem
But everyone had their own voice
Op elke steiger klonk een lied
A song echoed on every scaffold
van Paljas of Jeruzalem
Of Paljas or Jerusalem
Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.