CORNELIS VREESWIJK

Cornelis Vreeswijk

Multifunctional artist who is successful both in the Netherlands as well as in his adopted country Sweden.
Full biography

Instruments

gitaar, zang

Mentioned in the biography of

1952   Milly Scott
2002   Zijlstra
2004   The Ex
2006   Piter Wilkens
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Biography Cornelis Vreeswijk

Multifunctional artist who is successful both in the Netherlands as well as in his adopted country Sweden.

1949

Vreeswijk and his family move to Sweden.

1957

Vreeswijk gets his first guitar.

1961

While his family moves back to The Netherlands, Cornelis stays in Sweden

1964

Vreeswijk makes his debut with Ballades En Brutaliteiten ('Ballads and Impertinence'). The album is greeted with much enthusiasm by the Swedish press. For Vreeswijk it is the start of a flamboyant career with lots of ups & downs.

1966

Vreeswijk makes his debut on Dutch television. The single Nozem En De Non ('Ted and the Nun') is released.

1967

Vreeswijk makes his debut as an actor.

1972

Vreeswijk's star is also rising in The Netherlands. The singles Veronica and De Nozem En De Non (the latter re-released) are Top 40 hits and the album Cornelis Vreeswijk becomes gold. Unfortunately, Vreeswijk's alcoholism is getting out of hand.

1976

The album Foto's En Een Souvenir ('Photo's and a Souvenir') reaches the album charts.

1980

Vreeswijk makes a comeback.

1982

Vreeswijk plays for the second time at the Danish Roskilde festival.

1987

Vreeswijk dies of cancer of the liver. He is penniless and cannot even afford his hospital bills.

1993

De Memoires Van Meester Cees ('The Memoirs of Master Cees'), a box-set containing five albums is released and sells over 70.000 copies.

1996

A Best Of… CD is released.

1997

In Stockholm a vigil is held marking the 10th anniversary of Vreeswijk's death.

1999

In the Dutch city of Utrecht the Cornelis Vreeswijk Foundation is set up.

2000

Sagan Om Den Glygande Holländer a play about Cornelis Vreeswijk's life can be seen in the Swedish theatres.

2001

The play is translated into Dutch.

2002

A tribute CD to Vreeswijk features contributions by (cabaret artists) Jack Spijkerman, Eric van Muiswinkel, Bob Fosko, Maarten van Roosendaal, Jeroen van Merwijk and Bram Vermeulen.

2003

On June a bust of Cornelis Vreeswijk is unveiled in the dunes near IJmuiden. The day is concluded with shows by musicians like Bob Fosko and Cornelis' sister Tonny Vreeswijk.

Bob Fosko

2004

On March 29 pubcaster VARA broadcasts the TV documentary Cornelis Vreeswijk Leeft! ('Cornelis Vreeswijk Lives!') by director Hans Polak. Apart from interviews with family and friends, the film also features an impression of the annual memorial concert in the Stockholm's Katarina church plus a visit to the museum dedicated to the late singer/songwriter. While working on the film, unknown recordings by Vreeswijk are discovered at his uncle's. They appear to be translated songs by Swedish troubadour Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795).

2006

In October Piter Wilkens releases the tribute album It Fûgeltsje Yn Myn Gitaar in Frisian.

Piter Wilkens

2007

Several renowned Swedish artists record an album as tribute to Cornelis Vreeswijk. Acts like Nicolai Dunger, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, singer Stefan Sundström and Joachim Thåström from punk group Ebba Grön record a new version of the 1970 album Poem, Ballader Och Lite Blues. The CD comes out late November.

2010

In November is the premiere of a Swedish film about the life of Cornelis Vreeswijk. The film is directed by video director Amir Chamdin. The role of Vreeswijk is played by singer Hank von Helvete (real name: Hans Erik Dyvik Husby) from the band Turbonegro.

Photos Cornelis Vreeswijk

Audio/Video Cornelis Vreeswijk