Two André's on Stage in Maastricht!

Two André's on Stage in Maastricht: Andre van Duin and André Rieu

Andre van Duin's Maastricht Dialect: The Limburger: Andre van Duin is one of the special guests in the André Rieu concert series in Maastricht. The comedian even studied the local dialect. He has to practice a little more, but afterwards Andre van Duin can present himself as a real Maastricht inhabitant.

The comedian, who started his performance on the André Rieu concerts last Friday, tries to please the audience on the Vrijthof by addressing them in the Maastricht dialect. Andre Rieu helps him and explains that he has to stretch the sound of the words. Van Duin practices saying "Moooooswief (vegetable women), shieieiethoes (toilet)" to laughter from the audience. The joke is the introduction to his song: ‘Ma Ma Maastricht’; an ode to the city and specially composed by him for the performance on the Vrijthof. "It seems great to be from Maastricht, pearl of the south, an ancient poem.” He repeats the refrain in local dialect, to the amusement of the 8000 people on the square. Covered in ponchos because of the rain, they can follow the lyrics on the big screens beside the stage in the Greek temple.

Andre van Duin is very fond of Maastricht. "I have been visiting Maastricht for almost all of my life, by performing in the Theatre of the Vrijthof. It's a nice city with nice people. I use to stay at the Derlon Hotel at the O.L.V. Square. Great to have a drink on one of the terraces and to go shopping.”

Andre van Duin has performed before with André Rieu. On April 30th 2013 during the Coronation Ball, they were on stage together on the Museum Square in Amsterdam. He also performed in a show in the Amsterdam ArenA as his alterego: Mr. Wijdbeens. Van Duin has not yet experienced the traditional Vrijthof concerts. "Of course I have seen them on TV" he says laughing. “The audience here is a little bit older. People from our age!”

Andre van Duin will be present at all performances. Between the weekends van Duin returns home to his ho9use along the Amsterdam canals. “At the moment I can do it in between. I have a good rapport with Andre Rieu. When he calls me, I'll be there. It's so nice to do. The Vrijthof Square looks great and the people are so cheerful. There is more aggression at dance parties because the audience entering the party seems to be drugged. Here André Rieu's music generates a friendly atmosphere.”

Besides his Ode to Maastricht, van Duin is singing ‘Het Dorp’ (the village), an evergreen from Wim Sonneveld. "I am a comedian first and foremost and I sing silly songs. But I also like the more serious work. I love songs that are easy on the ear and I have been singing them for many years. I like the variety.”

Although Andre van Duin loves Maastricht, he does not feel like living here. "I think you have to be born here, to live here. The sense of humor is different from that in Amsterdam. More cozy here. I notice it when people very politely ask for an autograph or a photo to be taken with them. In other places they immediately resort to shouting.”

At any rate: for the next two weekends he can still practice to improve his dialect. Of course with the assistance of André Rieu himself!

Translated by Ineke - Edited by Entia