Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop… Read Full Bio ↴Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit (born December 31, 1985) is a Dutch pop music and schlager singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (I sing this song only for you) in 1997. Being 12 years of age back then, he was known as Jantje Smit.

Smit was discovered by Dutch middle of the road band BZN, who used his vocals in a duet called Mama. He has released several albums in Dutch and German since.

Jan dedicated the song Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen (means: I Sing this song just for you) to his grandmother. In 1997, Smit toured South Africa with popular Afrikaans singer Nádine. In 2000, Smit won the Grand Prix der Volksmusik singing Ich zeig dir die Berge with Oswald Sattler for South Tyrol. In 2001 Smit won the Exportprijs for his success in Germany, France and Italy. In Germany he became one of the best selling Dutch artists ever, with German-language albums specifically aimed at the German market.

After three big hits in the late 90's, Jan's popularity began to wane gradually. His albums Jan Smit 2000 #32 (2000), Zing en Lach (Sing and Laugh) #33 (2001), Zonder Jou (Without You) #40 and Op Eigen Benen (On My Own Feet) #45 sold fewer copies than his first two albums from his child star era.

However, Jan was still very popular in Germany, where he spent most of his time touring. 2005 marked his comeback in his home country, when regional television host Willie Oosterhuis picked up a Jan Smit song recorded in 2003, 'Als de nacht verdwijnt' ('When the night is over'). Willie heavily plugged the song on his show, resulting in a medium sized hit.

During the same period Dutch broadcaster TROS wanted to produce a real life soap about Jan, with the focus on his life as a teenage star in Germany and The Netherlands, and on his private life in the picturesque seaside village of Volendam. The reality soap became a TV hit and an accompanying album, 'Vrienden voor het leven' ('Homies for life') brought Jan back at the top of the charts for the first time in a few years. It was written for his cousin Niek Smit(s), who lives in Maastricht.

In 2006 Smit had several big selling hit singles, such as 'Laura' (about a friend who died of cancer), 'Als de morgen is gekomen' ('When the morning has come') and 'Cupido' (Cupid). Jan usually includes special tracks on his CD singles, such as live recordings, previously unreleased tracks and CD-ROM-content, which makes his singles more interesting for his hardcore fanbase. In 2007 he topped the single charts again with "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (On The Road To Happiness) and with "Dan Volg Je Haar Benen" ('And then you check out her legs'), and the album charts also with the album "Op Weg Naar Geluk" (the album sold 160.000 copies in its first four days after being released, more than double platinum).

In 2006 he also recorded "Kerst voor Iedereen" (Christmas for Everyone) which was a Christmas-duet with Dutch tv-host Bridget Maasland as a part of Dutch tv-show Katja vs Bridget. He later on recorded this song with his younger sister Monique Smit, who recently also started a singing career

In 2007 he planned to tour the Netherlands again with the "Jan Smit Komt Naar Je Toe"-tour (Jan Smit Comes To You) but due to problems with his vocal cords this tour had to be postponed. For at least 6 months Jan Smit has to rest his voice.

'Dan volg je haar benen' was Jan's fifth Number One single in The Netherlands, making him one of the most successful soloists in Dutch chart history. Only George Michael and Dutch singer Marco Borsato had more Number Ones.

Het Land Van Mijn Dromen
Jan Smit Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wind neem mij mee over de golven
Naar mijn droomland, voorbij de horizon

Vaak sta ik hier aan de dijk
Als ik over 't water kijk
Naar 't mooie avondrood
Naar de scheepjes klein en groot

Ik vroeg een zeeman aan de ree
Is er land achter de zee
Is er land achter de horizon

Met tranen in z'n ogen zei hij:
M'n lieve jongen, daar ligt het paradijs

Breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen
Paradijs in de zon en de zee
Bij nacht zie je sterren daar fonkelen
Oh zeeman, neem mij toch met je mee

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen
Paradijs in de zon en de zee
Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen
Oh zeeman neem mij toch met je mee
'k ben aan 't einde van m'n reis
Zei de zeeman oud en grijs
Ik vaar niet lang meer over zee

Met tranen in z'n ogen zei hij
M'n lieve jongen, vaar mee naar 't paradijs

Breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen
Paradijs in de zon en de zee
Bij nacht zie je sterren daar fonkelen
Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen
Paradijs in de zon en de zee
Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen
Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen
Paradijs in de zon en de zee

Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen
Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee

Overall Meaning

Jan Smit's "Het Land Van Mijn Dromen" is a song about the yearning for a place beyond the horizon that is filled with beauty and wonder - a paradise where dreams come true. The lyrics describe the singer's fascination with the sea and the unknown land beyond it, with the seaman serving as a guide to this elusive paradise. The song evokes a sense of longing and a desire to escape to a better place that can only be reached with the help of someone more experienced and knowledgeable.

The opening lines of the song suggest a desire to escape the present reality and to journey to the world of dreams beyond the waves: "Wind neem mij mee over de golven / Naar mijn droomland, voorbij de horizon." The images of the sea, the evening sky, and the ships create a magical and transformative atmosphere, as the singer gazes in wonder at the beauty that surrounds him.

As the singer encounters the seaman and asks him about the land beyond the sea, the song takes on a spiritual dimension, with the seaman serving as a kind of mentor or guide to the singer's spiritual journey. The seaman's words, "M'n lieve jongen, daar ligt het paradijs" ("My dear boy, there lies paradise"), are filled with a sense of hope and possibility, suggesting that the journey to the land of dreams is not impossible.

In all, "Het Land Van Mijn Dromen" is a song that speaks to the human longing for a better world, for a utopia where all wishes come true. Through its evocative lyrics and music, the song takes the listener on a journey of discovery and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Wind neem mij mee over de golven Naar mijn droomland, voorbij de horizon
The singer wishes for the wind to carry him over the waves to his dreamland, beyond the horizon.

Vaak sta ik hier aan de dijk Als ik over 't water kijk Naar 't mooie avondrood Naar de scheepjes klein en groot
The singer frequently stands on the dike, looking over the water at the beautiful sunset and the various boats, both big and small.

Ik vroeg een zeeman aan de ree Is er land achter de zee Is er land achter de horizon
The singer asks a sailor at the harbor whether there is land beyond the sea and horizon.

Met tranen in z'n ogen zei hij: M'n lieve jongen, daar ligt het paradijs
The sailor, with tears in his eyes, confirms that there is a paradise beyond the sea and horizon.

Breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen Paradijs in de zon en de zee Bij nacht zie je sterren daar fonkelen Oh zeeman, neem mij toch met je mee
The artist asks the sailor to take him to his dreamland, a paradise in the sun and sea where stars twinkle at night.

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen Paradijs in de zon en de zee Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen Oh zeeman neem mij toch met je mee
The singer repeats his plea for the sailor to take him to his dreamland, where his fairytale will come true.

'k ben aan 't einde van m'n reis Zei de zeeman oud en grijs Ik vaar niet lang meer over zee
The sailor, old and gray, tells the singer that he is at the end of his journey and will not sail the sea for much longer.

Met tranen in z'n ogen zei hij M'n lieve jongen, vaar mee naar 't paradijs
The sailor, with tears in his eyes once again, implores the artist to join him on his journey to the paradise.

Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee
The artist begs the sailor once again to take him to his dreamland.

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen Paradijs in de zon en de zee Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee
The artist repeats his desire for the sailor to take him to his dreamland, where his fairytale will come true.

Ja, breng mij naar 't land van m'n dromen Paradijs in de zon en de zee Mijn sprookje is dan uitgekomen Oh jongen neem mij toch met je mee
The singer repeats his plea to the sailor to take him to his dreamland, where his fairytale will come true.

Contributed by Anna F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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