The Nederlandse Händelvereniging, abbreviated as NHV, was founded in 1934 under the name COV Bel Canto and has built a rich musical history ever since. An important part of this tradition is the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, first performed by the NHV in 1946 at the Concertgebouw. Since then, we have performed this glorious masterpiece more than 150 times!
Until 2016, the NHV had only three principal conductors: founder Jack P. Loorij (1942–1987), Thijs Kramer (1989–2011), and Andrew Wise (2011–2016). In addition, the NHV regularly collaborates with guest conductors including Ed Spanjaard, Klaas Stok, Boudewijn Jansen, Jules van Hessen, Bernard Touwen, Béni Csillag, and Louis Buskens. The current conductors, Paul Valk and Rick Muselaars, previously appeared with the choir as guest conductors.
The NHV is a large, high-level regional choir that rehearses weekly at the Wilhelminakerk. Its approximately 80 members are experienced amateur singers with strong vocal abilities, maintaining their high standards through vocal coaching, individual study, and regular (re-)auditions. The choir also receives ongoing vocal and technical support from voice pedagogues and, on occasion, from renowned singers such as Maarten Koningsberger. Depending on the programme, we invite project singers—particularly tenors and basses—to join us for specific concerts.
George Frideric Handel was a German Baroque composer who spent much of his career in England. He was born in Halle on 23 February 1685 and died in London on 14 April 1759. He is best known for his oratorios, including the famous Messiah, and operas such as Semele, Giulio Cesare, and Rinaldo. Handel’s music is renowned for its powerful choral works, masterful orchestration, and emotional expression, and it has had a lasting influence on classical music.
Throughout his sixty-year career, Ton Koopman has grown from an enthusiastic pioneer into an undisputed authority in the field of historically informed performance practice of Baroque music. In 1973, together with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, he presented Bach’s St John Passion on period instruments in the Netherlands for the first time. Today, the ABO is regarded as one of the leading orchestras in the field of historical performance practice.
In addition, Ton Koopman is active worldwide as a guest conductor, harpsichordist, organist, music educator, scholar, and researcher. Throughout his career, he built up an impressive library of books, early prints, sheet music, and manuscripts. In 2020, this collection found a permanent home at the Orpheus Instituut, ensuring that it remains accessible to a new generation of musicians, musicologists, and researchers, and allowing his work to continue through future generations.
In October 2025, together with our ambassador Ton Koopman and the Comenius Museum, we organised the Dutch Handel Days.
