De Lijers

De Lijers
De Lijers
Origin	Netherlands
Genres	Electronic, Synth-pop
Years active	1978–present

De Lijers is a Dutch music group formed in 1978 by the five members of De Vrienden. The group is known for its use of 1980s electronic instruments, including hardware samplers and synthesizers. Their music was primarily distributed within family and regional circles connected to the members.

History

Formation

De Lijers was founded in 1978 by Martin Paap, Angelo Noord, Lourens Schroeter, Imro van Hetten, and Eef Hoos. The members had already formed a long-standing personal association during the 1970s under the name De Vrienden. Music production began informally during the late 1970s, with experiments in electronic sound and home recording equipment.

First releases

The group’s first official release was the song Het Vriendenliedje, published in 1987. This marked their first public musical output. Prior to this release, no songs had been formally distributed.

In 1989, following the imprisonment of Eef Hoos, the remaining members released the song Veroordeeld, which translates to “Convicted” in English. The song referenced the legal situation of Hoos and circulated within related communities.

Musical style and instruments

De Lijers’ sound is associated with late 1980s and early 1990s electronic production techniques. The group relied heavily on hardware-based instruments, especially samplers and digital synthesizers.

Their most frequently used instruments included:

The Ensoniq SQ-80 was commonly used for preset-based sequencing and layered synthesizer textures. The E-mu Emulator was used for sample playback and rhythm construction. These devices shaped the group’s early recordings and defined their production style.

Instruments developed

In addition to using commercial instruments, De Lijers are credited with developing experimental sound devices:

These instruments were designed for internal use and were associated with custom sound manipulation and sequencing methods.

Relationship to De Vrienden

De Lijers functions as the musical expression of De Vrienden. While De Vrienden refers to the long-term personal association of the five members, De Lijers represents their collaborative activity in music production. The group’s musical output reflects periods of personal and historical development within the wider network of families connected to the members.

Members

Official member order (music formation order):

This order differs from the numerical structure associated with De Vrienden.

Legacy

De Lijers is regarded as the foundational music group connected to the five principal families linked through De Vrienden. Their recordings from the 1980s form part of the documented cultural history of the group and remain referenced in later archival and historical accounts.