Dolf van der Linden

Dolf van der Linden was born on June 22, 1915 in Vlaardingen, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands as David Gysbert. He was married to Gerritje (Gerda) van der Linden.

In 1945, he was asked by Dutch authorities who had arrived back from their exile in London to form an orchestra for light music. Picking musicians he knew from all over the Netherlands, he thus managed to create the Metropole Orchestra.

Was the regular Dutch conductor in the Eurovision Song Contest from 1957-1971. He refused to conduct the winning Dutch entry in 1969 as he couldn't forgive General Franco in the war.

In the 1960s, his orchestra accompanied several editions of the Grand Gala du Disque, an annual award show organized by the Dutch recording industry and broadcast live on national TV, giving him the opportunity to accompany such international guest stars as Marlene Dietrich, Caterina Valente, and Petula Clark.

In the 1970s, Dolf van der Linden tried to rejuvenate and modernise his orchestra. I.

In 1980, he retired and his successor as chief conductor of the Metropole Orchestra was Rogier van Otterloo.

In 1995 he was awarded a Golden Harp for his outstanding achievements for entertainment music in the Netherlands; at the ceremony, he conducted the Metropole Orchestra for the last time.

On 22 June 2015, which would have been van der Linden's 100th birthday, the Metropole Orchestra played a concert of his compositions and arrangements. At this occasion, the first copy of van der Linden's biography, written by Bas Tukker, was presented to Dolf's younger brother Rob.