Nick en Simon

A Christmas celebration in fourth-year secondary school brings Nick Schilder and Simon Keizer together to sing for the first time. It is immediately clear: this is something special. Armed with English-language covers from Simon & Garfunkel among others, the vocal duo gains increasing recognition in and around Volendam. Alongside this, Simon writes songs with and for Jan Smit. As 'friends of', Nick & Simon regularly feature in the reality soap Gewoon Jan Smit. Top manager Jaap Buijs discovers the singers and puts them in touch with record label Artist & Company. In consultation, it is decided that the boys continue as a Dutch-language duo and they are paired with producers Gordon Groothedde and Edwin van Hoevelaak. Together with Nick & Simon, they develop a completely unique sound. Their first single Steeds Weer shoots straight into the radio playlists and hit lists in 2006, as does the follow-up Verloren. The debut album Nick & Simon enters the Mega Album Top 100 at number 10 in May of that year and earns them an original Rembrandt Award. The other singles from the album, Vaarwel Verleden/De Soldaat and Herwinnen, also score well. A new hit act is born!

Within a year, Nick & Simon have become indispensable in the Dutch music world. In January 2007 they receive a Zilveren Harp, followed later that year by the very first TMF Borsato Award. Their single Kijk Omhoog enters at number 2 in the Single Top 100 and is their biggest hit to date. But it can get even better: Pak Maar Mijn Hand actually enters at number 1. It is the title song of the film De Scheepsjongens Van Bontekoe, in which the boys themselves also briefly appear.

The second album Vandaag enters the Album Top 100 at number 1 and earns a second Rembrandt Award. The album achieves gold status on the day of release and is now four times platinum.

In 2007 Nick & Simon appear in no fewer than three reality soaps. In addition to Gewoon Jan Smit, they get their own series Nick & Simon on TROS on Nederland 1. Moreover, De Zomer Voorbij begins that year, the now annual programme in which the boys make fun and music at a summer destination with Volendam friends Jan Smit, 3JS, Kees Tol and rotating musical guests. With Rosanne, Nick & Simon achieve immortality in 2008. The catchy track stays in the Single Top 100 for a total of 55 weeks and is the most-played song in Dutch hospitality venues in 2008, earning them a SENA Mediatools Award. In 2008 the duo release their first live DVD, Altijd Dichtbij – Live In Concert, a recording of the theatre tour of the same name.

The following year, the hit duo break record after record. In 2009 they release no fewer than four number 1 hits: Vallende Sterren, De Dag Dat Alles Beter Is, Lippen Op De Mijne and Het Masker. It is the first time an artist from Dutch soil achieves that number within a year. The singles come from the third album Luister, now twice platinum. A big dream of Nick & Simon comes true when in May they perform twice at a sold-out Ahoy in Rotterdam, resulting in the DVD Overal – Ahoy 2009.

Aside from the Netherlands, the duo begin scoring hits in Belgium in 2010. The fourth album Fier is released, preceded by the single Een Nieuwe Dag, their seventh number 1 in the Single Top 100. For Fier they receive the 100%NL Award for 'Album of the Year'. Moreover, Nick & Simon begin a new television venture: they become coaches in John de Mol's programme The Voice Of Holland. The viewing figures break all records and their popularity takes off as never before. Between engagements they also collect a Edison Pop public prize for "Fier" in autumn 2011.

Television turns out to be a perfect fit for the men, who in 2011 travel to the USA armed with a camera to trek past New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville on a musical journey of discovery. The result is The American Dream, a new reality soap. Later that year the second season of The Voice begins. For their contribution to music in the Netherlands, Nick & Simon receive a Gouden Harp.

A new and major challenge comes for the singers with Symphonica In Rosso. Nick & Simon perform four times in October 2011 at a packed GelreDome in Arnhem, with Guido's Orchestra alongside their own band and guests Acda & de Munnik (with whom Nick and Simon, respectively, scored 'solo' hits earlier that year), 3JS and their TVOH protégé Pearl Jozefzoon. Just over a month later the CD/DVD appears, which is now double platinum. Earlier this year Nick and Simon resume their role as coaches in The Voice Kids and TROS broadcasts their own programme Nick Tegen Simon on Saturday evenings, a musical battle with various guests, presented by Katja Römer-Schuurman. But the success of the Volendam boys does not stop at hit lists and television shows. For three years they are the most-booked act in the Netherlands. They also appear in commercials for C1000 ('Or to Nick & Simon!') and the NS. They even have their own comic strip in the girls' magazine Tina and their own school diary.

The Netherlands' most successful duo begin the next chapter in their boys' story in 2012. In April their new single, Vrij, is released. It proves to be the perfect message from the newly appointed Ambassadors of Freedom, which is what the Volendam boys can call themselves this year. In that capacity they flew on 5 May by helicopter over the country to attend no fewer than four liberation festivals. Vrij is also a foretaste of the new album, Sterker, which is released on 21 September. Sterker is immediately a wonderful reason for unique new activities around Nick & Simon. For instance, the duo give their first concert at the celebrating Koninklijk Theater Carré on 19 September. Because the theatre sold out within half an hour and there was no room for an extra performance, a creative solution was found. To allow as many fans as possible to share in their latest celebration, the concert was live broadcast to ultimately 55 cinema halls across the Netherlands. In addition to the regular album of Sterker, there is also a limited edition of the new album with exclusive content. Sterker: the title lives up to its promise! Nick announced that the album would be somewhat heavier and even more pop than its predecessors. The album was well received and this resulted in GOLD status within a week! With the release of the album during a spectacular concert at Carré and live-streaming to 55 cinemas, a new path towards further success has been paved. The album Sterker quickly achieved platinum status.

With the start of 2013 the gentlemen are once again among the prize winners. The album Sterker is named 'Album of the Year' by 100%NL and they also receive the Edison Pop Public Prize for their latest album. Nick & Simon are also winning more ground in Belgium, which was crowned with the Anne Award (Flanders) for 'Most Played Artist'.

Source: http://www.nickensimon.nl/biografie