Thank God It's Almost Christmas

I know many, many people who love Christmas intensely, but like everything in life, there is always a boss above the boss. So here too. The queen of Christmas, that is really Trijntje. She starts to get excited in the summer about all the Christmas concerts she will give and already starts cautiously sending messages to fellow singers to encourage them to sing in one of those beautiful churches in the Netherlands. Starting Saturday, December 14, it’s time and she hangs up the decorations and puts up the Christmas lights, the Christmas lights to be precise.

Trijn, that's really how it is, right? It starts to itch in the summer, doesn’t it?

“Yes, indeed. Every year I record a Christmas song and that is hilarious because we are recording a Christmas song in the sweltering heat. And we always have a summer Christmas party, which is just for fun, but also to get people a bit excited for all the activities. So yes, I don’t think there is anyone in the Netherlands who starts Christmas earlier than I do.”

Is that love for Christmas also nurtured by your father? Does the Dominicus Church in the heart of our capital, where you frolicked as a little girl, resonate through these days?

“My brother's birthday is on December 25, so I have seen Christmas my whole life as my brother's birthday. And of course, we went with my father to the beautiful service on Christmas Eve and we were allowed to stay up late when we were little. We were surrounded by all those beautiful songs and those magnificent churches, where we played hide and seek and where I, when I was very young, got to experience my first performances. In between, my father preached, those were socially engaged sermons. And so we, as little children, were already in that setting and understood what that meant. Later, we started to give our own interpretation to that.”

I think it’s so beautiful that you give Christmas concerts in churches because we really need connection right now. When did that idea come about?

“We always celebrated Tjeerd's birthday very cozily at home. My parents were divorced, but it was still a very warm family and we did these kinds of things together. Afterwards, we often went to pubs to hold jam sessions and that’s where that love for those blue note sophisticated Christmas songs was born. Those became such fun moments that ultimately led to a tour. And I thought: churches are emptying, so why not do my concerts there? That has become such a beautiful tradition.”

What’s on the program for this Christmas session? Where are you going and with whom? And is there a church you are particularly looking forward to?

“Those churches are even more intimate, cozy, you sit close together and I have added some elements that strengthen the connection. Those are the requests that people can make. There are flyers with QR codes on every chair that allow people to request a song. We have already had three marriage proposals and that is all spontaneous. By now, the gift box tradition has also emerged, where people from the audience can win things. From air fryers to toasters, gourmet sets, everything. In addition, I have a different friend every night. This year Guus Meeuwis, Emma Kok, Leo Alkemade, Berget Lewis, Jeangu Macrooy, Edsilia. A very broad group of friends who want to come by. And we have the So Gospel Choir, which is so much fun. I rehearsed here in the living room yesterday. Such a church then becomes a glowing ember in the middle of the city where everything is warm and cozy. Connecting, space for each other and for the less fortunate, that is something I want to stand for. I have connected my Christmas single this year to the Red Cross. It’s called Kind On Me and I wrote it with Jett Rebel and Han Koreneef. Half a million people are facing food shortages in the Netherlands. The Red Cross has a project where you can become a shopping buddy for someone by giving, for example, 3 euros a month, which helps support people a bit. I have had meetings with those in need and that has deeply affected me. For each church, we have made spots available for people who cannot afford a ticket. And oh yes; there are snacks and drinks in the church, so you can really come about 1.5 hours in advance.”

And how nice that I can join in a few songs in the choir in Haarlem.

“So amazing! All the people who have taken my singing workshops can join my choir. That’s about thirty people per church who sing in three parts. So special.”

What does Christmas look like at the Oosterhuis home?

“We let ourselves be pampered, we go to a really nice hotel with everything included. Everyone in our family is busy, so we decided to treat ourselves to a hotel with lots of friends, family, and children. But what’s funny is that Edsilia and I participated in Heel Holland Bakt this year, which was really hilarious and will be broadcast at Christmas.”

I can imagine that you sit comfortably on the couch after all the performances at Christmas. Or are those dresses from M&S, who developed a great Christmas collection for you, so comfy that you lie comfortably in your sequined dress by the tree while Alvin strums on his guitar?

“Well, Alvin is always on tour with Roué Verveer, so we see each other during the Christmas days, but the rest of the month we are each touring separately. My ideal dream is to do a Christmas tour with Alvin one day.”

Did I already mention that you can adopt me? Or all of us?

“You can be adopted, come lie under the tree.”

Artificial or a real tree?

“I just have an artificial tree because that’s better than chopping down a tree every year, so we just have a nice artificial tree.”

What was your most beautiful Christmas ever?

“I think one of the most beautiful Christmas moments was when I was a mother for the first time. Jonas was born in September, so you have such a cute Christmas baby, my parents still alive and healthy. And later I got my gift Maël, who is from December 8. That I got to have those beautiful children and that you then have such a lovely and warm little nest. That feels like something to be proud of.”

And the worst?

“I remember a time when I was very young and our friends lost their mother to suicide and we were so shocked by that. That was really the worst Christmas ever. That great sadness that they had lost their mother.”

Do you have a favorite Christmas playlist?

“Of course! Those are all the cool soulful Christmas records. From P.J. Morton to Anthony Hamilton, there’s a stray record from Herman Van Veen in there, who also made a Christmas record. My own playlist is still soulful Christmas. You can easily find it on Spotify.”

Which Christmas movie is definitely watched every year?

“Boxing Day is really the day when we do nothing and watch movies, and then The Grinch and Home Alone always come by again.”

Imagine, everything is possible. You could even conjure people from heaven. Who would be at your ideal Christmas dinner? Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones next to your beloved father? And what would you sing?

“Without a doubt my father and Alvin's parents, we have gained a lot of stars in recent years. We always say when someone dies: “Another star has been added.” Once on vacation under a clear sky, Maël said: “Are many people here deceased?” But also Quincy Jones, Henny Vrienten, Burt Bacharach, all those heroes from heaven I would conjure to the table. A very musical dining table. I think we would sing beautiful gospels. But with Berget, Edsilia, my brother Tjeerd, Alvin, and all the other family, I also have an enormous wealth at my own table. On Christmas itself, we only eat and drink.”

When does that tree come down again?

“It usually comes down at the end of October and it doesn’t go down until January. My garden too, haha, it’s full of reindeer, hilarious. I just love it, lights hanging everywhere.”

Trijntje's Favorites:

Favorite outfit: “The dress from the M&S Mode campaign, I love that dress that accentuates the waist with my signature belt, which is really my style. It turned out super well and that is a nice extra for me. In the church tour, we have pop-up stores.”

Perfume of the moment: “I’m currently wearing Kilian Don’t Be Shy, I think it’s so nice.”

Book that is waiting for me: “I am reading a biography about my father. He has written so many amazing books that I didn’t have time for when he was alive, but now I want to read them all, so I have him a bit with me.”

Album that I only play: “Nat King Cole Christmas record and Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life”