Lennaert Nijgh

Lennaert Herman Nijgh (January 29, 1945 in Haarlem – November 28, 2002 in Haarlem) was a Dutch lyricist. Nijgh was most commonly known as the lyricist for Boudewijn de Groot.

Biography Nijgh was an only child and grew up in Heemstede. He went to the Coornhert Lyceum in Haarlem, together with his childhood friend Boudewijn de Groot. After two years Nijgh left the school, claiming that he was thrown out. He continued his education at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen. In the meantime, he stayed friends with De Groot. He then went to the Netherlands Film Academy, but never graduated. Nijgh was coached by Ernst van Altena, who had previously translated works by Jacques Brel.

Nijgh owned a ship named De Jonge Jacob (The Young Jacob), that he bought from a fisherman from Urk in 1969. Nijgh was a frequent visitor of Urk during his life. He used his ship to sail to England every year.

Nijgh's parents died in 2000, after which he wrote melancholy columns for a while. Nijgh chose mostly timeless themes for his songs, such as prostitution, love and peace, but also wrote about current events, such as the Vietnam War. In 1985, he wrote the rock opera Ik, Jan Cremer, which flopped.

Music Het mooiste van Lennaert Nijgh (CD) Universal 9807466, 2003. Lyrics by Nijgh, music by De Dijk, Liesbeth List, Ramses Shaffy, Rob de Nijs, Joost Nuissl, Cobi Schreijer, Boudewijn and Marcel de Groot, Herman van Veen, Astrid Nijgh and Stef Bos.

Films Feestje Bouwen 1962 De Aanslag 1963, "paasvakantie" Illusie 1964 Elsje in Wonderland 1966? Vox Humama 1966 Een Vreemde Vogel (1967) with Boudewijn de Groot, Martine Bijl, Jan Blokker and Ramses Shaffy. Een tip van de sluier 1979 Lieve jongens 1980

Literature Voor de overlevenden en andere liedjes (1966) Tobia, of De ontdekking van het masturbariaat (1971) – 2e druk 1991: De dynastie der kleine luyden (1974) – Tachtig teksten (1975) – Journaal van Bontekoe (translation) (1989) – (available through DBNL) Stad van hout: columns uit Haarlems Dagblad, 1986–1989 (1989) — Moord en doodslag: twaalf beroemde Nederlandse moordzaken (1990) — Tekst en uitleg: liedteksten 1964–1990 (1991) — Haarlem bestaat niet (1996) – Met open mond. 150 jaar Drogisterij A.J. van der Pigge (1999) – Ik doe wat ik doe [boek + CD] (2000) –

Translations Many song lyrics and several musicals. Mijn naam is Asjer Lev, book by Chaim Potok, 1974

After death Nog even en ik zie de hemel weer (2003) – Katten Columns (2004) Kerstvertellingen (2004)

About Nijgh Margreet Pop: Lennaert Nijgh verbeeld. Hommage aan een echte Haarlemmer. Haarlem 2005 — Peter Voskuil: Testament. Leven en werk van Lennaert Nijgh. Kats, 2007. (Biografie) —