Pieter Goemans

Pieter Goemans (1925-2000) was a Dutch composer, probably best known for having written the classic song "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten".

The son of a diplomat, his father forced him to write under a pseudonym to avoid any association between the family and the popular entertainment industry.

[3] It wasn't supplied with sheet music and recorded until 1956, when an arrangement was written by pianist Dick Schallies (then a member of the Metropole Orkest) since (Schallies explained) Goemans couldn't write music.

[3] Henk Visscher, singer as well as guitar and bass player with Johnny Kraaijkamp, was the first to sing and record the song,[4] In the 1960s Goemans was one of the regular lyricists for Corry Brokken, translating foreign material.

[6] The bridge on which "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten" came to him was marked with a plaque and later named for him; his ashes were spread over the Prinsengracht.