Dutch terms in the music industry

The Dutch language has a rich collection of terms and phrases that pertain to the music industry. Here are some of the terms you might encounter, along with their meanings and example sentences to help you understand how they are used in context.

Language notes compared within library walls.

The most efficient way to learn a language

Try Talkpal for free

Muziek – This term simply means “music” and is foundational in any discussion about the industry.
Ik luister graag naar verschillende soorten muziek.

Artiest – Translates to “artist,” and it can refer to a singer, musician or performer in the music industry.
De artiest staat bekend om zijn energieke optredens.

Album – Just like in English, an “album” is a collection of recorded songs or music compositions.
Haar nieuwe album komt volgende maand uit.

Single – This refers to a single song or track released by an artist, which is separate from an album release.
De band heeft net een nieuwe single gelanceerd.

Concert – A “concert” is a live performance of music before an audience.
We hebben kaartjes voor het concert van vanavond.

Optreden – This term means “performance” and can be used in both casual and professional music contexts.
Het optreden van de zanger was adembenemend.

Podium – “Stage” in Dutch, referring to the area where musicians perform.
De band betreedt het podium om 21:00 uur.

Genre – This refers to a “genre” or a specific style of music.
Jazz is een muziekgenre met een diepe geschiedenis.

Hitlijst – The “charts” are rankings of songs or albums based on popularity or sales.
Haar nieuwe single staat bovenaan de hitlijst.

Muzieklabel – A “music label” or record label is the company that produces and distributes an artist’s music.
Hij heeft net een contract getekend bij een groot muzieklabel.

Producer – A “producer” in Dutch is similar to English and refers to the person responsible for overseeing and managing the recording of an artist’s music.
De producer heeft een unieke sound gecreëerd voor het album.

Geluidstechnicus – This term means “sound engineer,” the professional who manages the technical aspects of recording sound.
De geluidstechnicus heeft de akoestiek perfect afgesteld voor de sessie.

Zang – Meaning “singing,” this term encompasses all aspects related to vocal performance.
Haar zang op het podium was nog beter dan op de plaat.

Akoestiek – “Acoustics” are the properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
De akoestiek in de concertzaal is uitstekend.

Noten – These are “notes” in a musical composition, the basic elements of music.
Hij leert de noten lezen om piano te kunnen spelen.

Maat – This translates to “measure” or “bar” in music, which is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats.
De muziek verandert elke vier maten van ritme.

Metronoom – A “metronome” is a device used by musicians to mark time by producing a regular tick at a selected rate.
Gebruik de metronoom om het tempo consistent te houden tijdens het oefenen.

Learning these Dutch terms can enhance your understanding of the music industry and help you engage more deeply with Dutch music culture on your language learning journey.

LEARN LANGUAGES FASTER
WITH AI

Learn 5x Faster

Download talkpal app
Learn anywhere anytime

Talkpal is an AI-powered language tutor. It’s the most efficient way to learn a language. Chat about an unlimited amount of interesting topics either by writing or speaking while receiving messages with realistic voice.

QR Code
App Store Google Play
Get in touch with us

Talkpal is a GPT-powered AI language teacher. Boost your speaking, listening, writing, and pronunciation skills – Learn 5x Faster!

Instagram TikTok Youtube Facebook LinkedIn X(twitter)

Languages

Learning


Talkpal, Inc., 2810 N Church St, Wilmington, Delaware 19802, US

© 2025 All Rights Reserved.