She started her career singing with dance orchestras around the city of Haarlem, then sang on various radio stations before her first hit record, "Ik zal je nooit meer vergeten", in 1958.

In 1960, Palmen took part in the Dutch Eurovision selection, with the song "Wat een geluk" ("What luck").

"Wat een geluk" was duly chosen as the song, but in the head-to-head with Rudi Carrell, Palmen lost out.

[1] Palmen returned in 1963 in a more straightforward procedure, performing three songs from which a professional jury would pick a winner.

[3] From a field of 16, "Een speeldoos" was one of four songs (the others being the entries from Finland, Norway and Sweden) which failed to score.