Jeroen Zijlstra (Oosterland 1958) worked as a cod fisherman from childhood in Den Oever, home to the fisher's fleet of Wieringen. He moved to Amsterdam in 1980 to pursue his second great passion: music. He played the trumpet in the jazz group of Vera Vingerhoeds, and is a member of numerous orchestras.

His current band Zijlstra performs Dutch songs that he describes as 'exceptionally salty'. The first CD Olie en rook (Oil and smoke) appeared in 1999, followed in 2002 by Tussen Den Oever en New York (Between Den Oever and New York). The song 'Durgerdam slaapt' ('Durgerdam sleeps'), from this second album, was awarded the Annie M.G. Schmidt Prize as best theatrical song of the year.

Songs in the Top 30:
Daar was laatst een meisje loos - Once there was a clever girl
O Holland schoon gij leeft in vrede - Oh beautiful Holland thou liv'st in peace
Waar de blanke top der duinen - Where the white tops of the dunes (with Mieke Stemerdink)

Visit this website for additional information about Jeroen Zijlstra:
www.zijlstraweb.com