Jaap Valkhoff

Jaap Valkhoff was born in 1914 in Rotterdam's Feijenoord neighborhood. He grew up hearing Dutch folk songs, and later took an interest in jazz and swing. During World War II, he performed for German occupiers, which led to some criticism after the war, though his connection to Rotterdam remained strong.

In 1949, he wrote and recorded "'k Heb U Lief Rotterdam," a song about the city's harbor, shipyards, and people. It became something of an unofficial anthem for Rotterdam. He also wrote other local favorites like "Dat Kan Alleen In Rotterdam," "Langs De Maas," and "Ik Zie De Haven Al."

Valkhoff worked with musicians like pianist Theo van der Meer and violinist Henk van 't Hof. He performed with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metropole Orchestra at times. He kept performing and writing into his later years, and died in 2005.