[1] In 1969 De Nijs took part in the Dutch heat of the Eurovision Song Contest and through musicals like Sajjuns Fiksjen he landed himself a role in children's TV-series Oebele.

The hits continued through 1975-1976, notably "Malle Babbe" and "Zet een Kaars voor Je Raam" (a Dutch translation by Lennaert Nijgh of David McWilliams's "Can I Get There by Candlelight?").

In 1980 De Nijs released Met Je Ogen Dicht("With Your Eyes Closed") which included the top 10-hit "Zondag" and became the Netherlands' best-selling album of the year.

In 1986 De Nijs released an album of covers from the 1950s/1960s-era; it included his version of "Living Doll"shortly after the Comic Relief-remake topped the charts.

In 1990 Stranger In Your Land was released, his first album of English originals plus translations of "Zonder Jou" ("On My Own"; 1981 duet with Demis Roussos), "Bo" (1983) and "Toerist In Het Paradijs" (1989) which became the title-track.

In 2017 De Nijs released Niet voor het laatst (Not for the Last Time) ; on this album he collaborated with Meuldijk again and sang a duet with his son Robbert.

On March 31, 2020 he appeared on the demissionary talkshow De Wereld Draait Door (The World Continues to Turn) to perform two new songs.