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.
Oma
Herman van Veen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Opgespaard voor kleinzoon
In Piggelmee z'n huisje
Dat was een Keulse pot
Keurig witte lakens
Stapeltjes van zeven
Oma heeft nog echt Chinese
Douwe Egberts lepeltjes
Oude Friese klokken
Geitewollen sokken
Ze heeft er honderden gebreid
Oma heeft in jaren geen bezoek meer gehad
Geen bloemetje
Of dankje
Als ze jarig is
Komt er altijd iemand van
Het wijkhuis
Die oma troost en zegt
Geluk is een herinnering, mevrouw
De Lieve Heer ziet op u neer, mevrouw
Heeft u een kleinigheidje voor zijn kerk, mevrouw
Tot volgend jaar, mevrouw
Oma heeft alleen nog
Het gouden medaillon
Met korporaal De Jager
Van het eerste bataljon
Hollandse jongens
Jongens van stavast
Die in de oorlog bleven staan
En zo zijn doodgegaan
Herman van Veen's "Oma" is a poignant tribute to an elderly woman who has lived a long life and is now alone, isolated from the world around her. The song begins by discussing the precious possessions that Oma has held onto for her grandson, including real gold coins and Chinese porcelain cups. Despite her lonely existence, she has continued to cherish and preserve these items as a connection to the past.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Oma's life is not one of happiness and contentment. She hasn't had visitors in years, and the only person who comes to see her on her birthday is someone from the local community center. This person offers kind words and comfort, but cannot bring Oma the joy and companionship she truly craves. Through her struggles, Oma holds onto the memory of Korporaal De Jager, a soldier who fought bravely and died in the war. This is a metaphor for the losses and hardships she has faced in her own long life.
The message of "Oma" is one of empathy and understanding for the elderly, who often suffer from loneliness and isolation. Herman van Veen's evocative lyrics paint a vivid picture of Oma's life, and allow listeners to share in her struggles and triumphs. The song reminds us to appreciate the elderly in our lives, and to offer them the companionship and support they need to thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
Oma heeft nog echte gouden tientjes
Grandmother has genuine gold coins saved for her grandson
Opgespaard voor kleinzoon
She has saved them for her grandson
In Piggelmee z'n huisje
She kept them in Piggelmee's house, a reference to a children's storybook
Dat was een Keulse pot
Piggelmee's house was a special container, with significant importance
Keurig witte lakens
Tidy white sheets
Stapeltjes van zeven
Stacked in tidy piles of seven
Oma heeft nog echt Chinese
Grandmother has genuine Chinese
Kopjes porselein
Porcelain cups
Douwe Egberts lepeltjes
Small spoons from Douwe Egberts
Oude Friese klokken
Old Frisian clocks
Geitewollen sokken
Hand-knitted woolen socks
Ze heeft er honderden gebreid
She knitted hundreds of them
Oma heeft in jaren geen bezoek meer gehad
Grandmother hasn't had any visitors in years
Geen bloemetje
No flowers
Of dankje
Or thank-you
Als ze jarig is
On her birthday
Komt er altijd iemand van
Someone from
Het wijkhuis
The community center
Die oma troost en zegt
Who comforts her and says
Geluk is een herinnering, mevrouw
Happiness is a memory, ma'am
De Lieve Heer ziet op u neer, mevrouw
The Lord is watching over you, ma'am
Heeft u een kleinigheidje voor zijn kerk, mevrouw
Do you have a small offering for his church, ma'am
Tot volgend jaar, mevrouw
See you next year, ma'am
Oma heeft alleen nog
Grandmother only has
Het gouden medaillon
The golden locket
Met korporaal De Jager
With Corporal De Jager
Van het eerste bataljon
Of the first battalion
Hollandse jongens
Dutch boys
Jongens van stavast
Boys of steadfastness
Die in de oorlog bleven staan
Who stood firm during the war
En zo zijn doodgegaan
And thus, they died
Contributed by Noah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.