Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)

"Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)"
Single by Guus Meeuwis
from the album Verbazing
B-side"Het is een nacht... (Levensecht) (Live)"
ReleasedJuly 29, 1995
Recorded1994
Genre
Length3:45
LabelXPLO
SongwriterGuus Meeuwis
ProducerAd Kraamer
Guus Meeuwis singles chronology
"Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)"
(1995)		 "Per spoor (Kedeng kedeng)"
(1996)
Music video
"Het is een nacht" on YouTube

"Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" (English: "It is a Night... (Lifelike)") is the debut single by Dutch artist Guus Meeuwis. The song was produced by Ad Kraamer and written by Meeuwis. It was released in 1995 as the lead single from Meeuwis's debut studio album Verbazing. It was highly successful in the Netherlands and Belgium where it peaked atop the national singles chart in both countries and emerged as the year's best-selling single.

To promote the song a music video was filmed, showing a performance at a bar by Guus Meeuwis. Additionally, he performed it live during several live concerts and televised appearances. Two updated versions of the song were released, including one by German band The Baseballs in 2011 and one featuring Dutch rapper Kraantje Pappie in 2020.

Background

Guus Meeuwis wrote "Het is een nacht" after a romantic weekend with his girlfriend Valérie Gregoire in Bruges. In 1994, Meeuwis and a couple of friends entered a talent competition (the AHC-Studentensongfestival) in Leiden with this song and won. As a result, the group was offered a recording contract by Willem van Schijndel, under the name "Guus Meeuwis & Vagant".[1][2]

In 2025, he appeared on the Dutch TV show Liefde voor Muziek where he explained that the song came to existence "I studied for a year and a half in Leuven and went up to a café with a piano and a guitar. I wrote the song there."[3]

Chart performance

The song became a huge hit in The Netherlands and Belgium and reached the peak position in both the Dutch and Belgian charts. It spent seven weeks at number one in the Dutch Top 40 and eight weeks at number one in the Mega Single Top 100 and the Ultratop 50.[4][5][6] More than 250,000 copies were sold.[1]

The song was placed at number 10 on the Top 40 Biggest Dutch-language Hits of All Time list compiled in 2023.[7] It appeared on the NPO Radio 2's Top 2000 list, with the highest position of 653 in 2021.[8]

Live performances

"Het is een nacht" was performed live by Meeuwis during several televised appearances and as part of his concert tours and live gigs. In 2012, 2013 and 2019 he performed it as part of his concert Groots met een zachte G, the second time being accomapnied by the band Racoon.[9]

On 22 August 2015, he performed the song live at the tenth year anniversary of Q-music.[10] On 26 November 2019, he performed it live during a televised appearance on the famous show De Wereld Draait Door.[11] On 2 August 2020, Meeuwis performed the song live uring a televised appearance on Muziekcafé in Poppodium 013 at Club Zoveel.[12] On 23 November 2024, he performed the song together with Hispanic singer Rolf Sanchez in both Spanish and Dutch at The Streamers concert.[13]

In 2025, he performed "Het is een nacht" during the Tien om te Zien concert held on 15 August.[14] He performed it live on 19 December 2025 during the 3FM Serious Request concert at NPO 3FM.[15] On 20 March 2026, he performed the song live at De Vrienden van Amstel concert where he sang it together with Dutch Indie group Son Mieux and along with the song "Tonight".[16]

On 15 June 2021, Dutch rapper Ronnie Flex and Dutch singer Emma Heesters performed a cover of "Het is een nacht" live at Q Music's De Foute 1500.[17]

Charts

The Baseballs cover

"This is a Night
(Het is een nacht)"
Single by The Baseballs featuring Guus Meeuwis
from the album Strings 'n' Stripes
ReleasedMay 23, 2011
GenreRock 'n roll
Length3:07
LabelWarner Music Group
SongwriterGuus Meeuwis
ProducerJMC Music
The Baseballs singles chronology
"Hello"
(2011)		 "This is a Night (Het is een nacht"
(2011)		 "Wha Wha"
(2011)

"Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" was covered by the rockabilly cover band, The Baseballs, in 2011, under the name "This is a Night (Het is een nacht)", featuring vocals by Meeuwis. The lyrics were partially translated into English. The single is included on the Dutch version of The Baseballs' album Strings 'n' Stripes, as well on a special edition of Meeuwis's album Armen open. The song debuted at number 83 on the Mega Single Top 100 for the chart issue dated 28 May 2011. The following week, it reached the 69th position on the chart which also marked its peak position. It fell off the chart for the issue dated 11 June only to return the next week. It spent a total of four weeks on the chart.[25] On 27 May 2011, The Baseballs performed the song live together with Meeuwis at Radio 538.[26]

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[25] 69

Kraantje Pappie cover

"Nacht"
Single by Guus Meeuwis featuring Kraantje Pappie
from the album Op Deel Zoveel
Released10 January, 2020
Length3:34
LabelModestus Records, Noah's Ark
SongwriterGuus Meeuwis
ProducerPalm Trees
Guus Meeuwis featuring Kraantje Pappie singles chronology
"Nooit niet verliefd"
(2019)		 "Nacht"
(2020)		 "Was je maar hier"
(2020)
Kraantje Pappie singles chronology
"Getaway"
(2019)		 "Nacht"
(2020)		 "Rode wijn"
(2020)

A rework of the song titled "Nacht" featuring Dutch rapper Kraantje Pappie was released on 10 January 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was later included on the second CD of Guus Meeuwis's studio album Deel Zoveel (2020).[27]

Before the official release, both Kraantje and Guus released a brief teaser video through their Instagram accounts on 9 January 2020.[28] The new version of the song makes wide use of autotune and is produced by Palm Trees.[29] Speaking to Brabants Bont from the portal Omroep Brabant about the song, Meeuwis said that he sees it as a tribute rather than a rework of the original version: "It is as if 'Het is een nacht' was taken to the sun. The song is timeless. When I perform I see rows full of young people who were not born when the song came out. They sing as loud as the rest."[30]

"Nacht" was commercially successful, peaking at number 25 on the Dutch Top 40 where it also spent 6 weeks charting.[31] On the Single Top 100, the song debuted at number 26 for the week of 18 January 2020.[32] It later moved to its peak position of number 17 in its fifth week on the chart, on 15 February 2020.[33][34]

To promote the song, the two appeared in a music video which was filmed in London. The video follows them during a night out; they take a limousine, take pictures with a fan on the street, go shopping for new clothes, eat at a luxurious restaurant, take selfies at various locations in the city and end up drinking beer together. Scenes of various tourist attractions and buildings in London are also interspersed in the video.[35] They also appeared at the 2020 Vrienden van Amstel concert, where they sang the song live.[36]

Credits and personnel
  • Credits for "Nacht" are taken from the official music video on YouTube.[35]
  • Video direction - Machiel Hofman
  • Camera - Tim Toorman
  • Edit and Montage - Bas van Schellen
  • Video production - Fast Forward
  • Music production - Palm Trees
  • Mix - Nightwatch
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 25
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 17

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Guus Meeuwis biography". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Guus Meeuwis biography" (in Dutch). Guus Meeuwis Showbiz. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  3. ↑ Callens, Florian (29 April 2025). "'Liefde voor Muziek': Guus Meeuwis vertelt over het tot stand komen van 'Het Is Een Nacht'" ['Liefde voor Muziek': Guus Meeuwis Talks About the Creation of 'Het Is Een Nacht']. News Monkey. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Ultratop 50". www.ultratop.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Mega Single Top 100". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Top 40". www.top40.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "De 40 Grootste Nederlandstalige Hits Aller Tijden" [Top 40 Dutch-language Hits of All Time] (in Dutch). Top40. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Hoe doen de platen het?". NPO Radio 2. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  9. ↑ Performances of the song at the Groots met een zachte G concerts in 2012, 2013 and 2019:
  10. ↑ Guus Meeuwis - 'Het Is Een Nacht' (live bij Q-music) // 10 jaar Q. Qmusic - Nederland. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  11. ↑ Guus Meeuwis - Het Is Een Nacht. DWDD. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  12. ↑ Guus Meeuwis - 'Het Is Een Nacht' live bij Muziekcafé in Poppodium 013 (Club Zoveel) [Guus Meeuwis - 'Het Is Een Nacht' live at Muziekcafé in Poppodium 013 (Club Zoveel)]. NPO Radio 2 Muziek. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  13. ↑ Het Is Een Nacht (NL/Spaans)| The Streamers. The Streamers. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ Guus Meeuwis - 'Het Is Een Nacht' | Tien Om Te Zien | 2025 | VTM. VTM. 15 August 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ Guus Meeuwis live met 'Het Is Een Nacht', 'Brabant' en meer | 3FM Serious Request | NPO 3FM [Guus Meeuwis live with 'Het Is Een Nacht', 'Brabant' and more | 3FM Serious Request | NPO 3FM]. 3FM Live. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  16. ↑ Guus Meeuwis & Son Mieux | Het Is Een Nacht x Tonight | VVAL2026. De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ Ronnie Flex & Emma Heesters - ‘Het Is Een Nacht’ (live bij Qmusic) [Ronnie Flex & Emma Heesters - ‘Het Is Een Nacht’ (live at Qmusic)]. Qmusic - Nederland. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  18. ↑ "Guus Meeuwis & Vagant – Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  19. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 32, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  20. ↑ "Guus Meeuwis & Vagant – Het is een nacht... (Levensecht)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1995". Ultratop. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1995". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  23. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  24. ↑ "Ultratop Nineties 500: 1-50". Ultratop (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  25. 1 2 "Mega Single Top 100". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  26. ↑ Radio 538: The Baseballs & Guus Meeuwis - Het is een nacht (This is a night). 538. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  27. ↑ "Guus Meeuwis viert 25 jaar 'Het is een nacht'" [Guus Meeuwis Celebrates 25 Years 'Het is een nacht'] (in Dutch). Showbizz site. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Schoehaus, Anneloes (10 January 2020). "Guus Meeuwis Lanceert Nieuwe Versie 'Het is een nacht' met Kraantje Pappie" [Guus Meeuwis Releases New Version of 'Het is een nacht' with Kraantje Pappie]. Linda. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  29. ↑ "Guus Meeuwis steekt Het is een nacht in nieuw jasje met Kraantje Pappie" [Guus Meeuwis Reworks Het is een nacht together with Kraantje Pappie]. AD.nl. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  30. ↑ "'Ik had het ook gezegd als ik het niks vond', maar Guus Meeuwis is blij met nieuwe Nacht" ['I Would Have Said So If I Did Not Like It', But Guus Meeuwis Is Happy with New Nacht]. Omroep Brabant. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  31. 1 2 "Kraantje Pappie & Guus Meeuwis - Nacht" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  32. ↑ "Dutch Single Top 100 - 18/01/2020". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Dutch Single Top 100 - 15/02/2020". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  34. 1 2 "Kraantje Pappie & Guus Meeuwis - Nacht" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  35. 1 2 Kraantje Pappie & Guus Meeuwis - Nacht (prod. Palm Trees). Noahsarklabel. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2026 – via YouTube.
  36. ↑ Kraantje Pappie, Guus Meeuwis | Het Is Een Nacht | VVAL 2023. De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2026 – via YouTube.
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