Dutch House

Dutch house, sometimes known as 'Dirty Dutch,' is an electro-house genre developed in the Netherlands. Thanks to Vato Gonzalez, Afrojack, and DJ Chuckie, it gained popularity in 2009. Eventually, it became widely known because radio stations worldwide played it frequently.

The genre's origins trace back to 1987. Then, a club named The Roxy opened in Amsterdam. It allowed Dutch DJs to experiment with their kind of house music. This type of harsh euro house developed into its sound over time.

The rise of Dutch dance culture has been nothing short of astounding. By 1988, DJs in the Netherlands received little attention. The media often portrayed them as carriers of "terrible nothingness" and house music as "empty music" and "devoid of substance." Fast forward to the mid-nineties, when House events like Thunderdome and Mysteryland emerged, a new culture known as "gabber" spread worldwide.

Spinnin' Records, founded in Hilversum, Netherlands, in 1999, aided the emergence of Dutch house with releases by DJs such as Afrojack, Tiesto, and Blasterjaxx. Laidback Luke and his label Mixmash Records are also key figures in the growth and globalization of the genre.

Every year, DJ Mag, a British magazine dedicated to EDM and DJs, names the top 100 DJs in the world. Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, and Martin Garrix received particular attention in previous years. They are arguably three of the world's most popular DJs and are all Dutch.

The Dutch House Sound

Laidback Luke & Good Grip's "Rocking with the Best" is a well-known example of this style. The track, an early hit in the genre, features hip-hop lyrics and a pounding techno rhythm over a fluctuating high-frequency synth. Pitbull & Afrojack – "Maldito Alcohol" is another style classic. In this case, the traditional Dutch synth was lowered in the mix to make place for Pitbull's vocals. However, the beat and mood remain unmistakably Dutch.

The "Dirty Dutch" sound is more electronic than other commercial house genres. It features edgy drum machine beats, side-chained bass, 8-bit computerized sounds, and many effects. The sound of Dutch house music is most often associated with high-frequency synthesizers built around mellow bass lines and basic beats. Reggaeton rhythms are also prevalent.