dj

PER

DJ Per played professionally for the first time on his event called Het Bal (1984) in Melkweg in Amsterdam, which was a party filled with performances, live music, fashion shows and other acts. This was in the pre-house period, with hip-hop, electro, pop, wave and more, everything was played by Per in those days as long as it had a good groove and beat. This turned into a regular Saturday night in the same place called Dance Hall Night, from 1986-1990, with a different decor every week and all kinds of acts and performances.

During this period, house music became an ever increasing factor in dj Per's sets, until this groundbreaking Dutch club-night made way for The BeatClub, the first Dutch party organization that threw house parties all over the country. To name a few: Weekender in a big tent next to the Coengebouw in Amsterdam, two nights in Parkzicht in Rotterdam, in a tent on the beach in Wijk aan Zee, in many warehouse on the Javakade. Dj Per played solo at most of them, sometimes even sets of no less then 10 hours. From 1989 to 1991 there were almost 30 parties, the biggest one was the first Dutch rave in Sportpaleis Ahoy in Rotterdam on 12-01-1991 called 'Rave of the 90's'. With live on stage: Lil' Louis, Snap, Rhythm Device and 808 State and guest dj's Eddy de Clercq, Mike Pickering and Joost van Bellen.

Also in 1989: the first Timemachine in the Melkweg, in cooperation with his brother Claes. The Timemachine is a collection of many parties in one, in which every Timegate has it's own music style, decor and atmosphere. In Timegate 1 (the largest room) dj Per always played his records from 1 to 5 o'clock, thus being the main dj on every edition of this legendary event. The Timemachine is now in rest after more then 50 editions in 10 years. There have been landings in Zurich (Rote Fabrik 8-9-1990), Bruxelles (Halles de Schaerbeek 25-09-1993), Cambridge (Junction 23-07-1994), Terschelling (Oerol festival 9,10,11-06-1994) and in The Hague (Paard 11-10-1997). 

The Timemachine Clubnights started of as a series of summer Sunday nights in the Melkweg, as a stage for national and international guest dj's, hosted by Per. The first summer in 1994 brought guests like Sven Vath (D), Joost v. Bellen, Remy and Eddy de Clercq. In 1995 guests included Sasha (UK), Carl Cox (UK), Juan Atkins (USA), Jens Mahlstedt (D), Toby (Jap) and Carlijn. The last series was in 1996, with dj's Paul v. Dijk (D), Ian Ossia (UK), Sister Bliss (UK), Koenie (Blg), Eva and a solo night with dj Per.

In 1993, it was time for The Ambient Weekend, a festival dedicated to this newly discovered direction in electronic music. Being the first in its kind, The British magazine The Face dedicated an 8 pages article to the festival. Two days of live music combined with spacey dj's in a relaxing and soothing surrounding. The three editions of this festival featured bands like Aphex Twin, Pete Namlook, HIA, Biosphere, Jeff Greinke, Manna, Tournesol, Tuu, Another Fine Day, O Yuki Conjugate etc. Dj Per and his brother Claes (2 Meijer Prod.) have also been responsible for the chill-out hall on the Digital Overdose parties in Sporthallen-Zuid in Amsterdam (1996-1997). Here, a sports hall would be turned into an old city centre, a video-nature garden or a concert-hall featuring live musicians jamming together with dj's.

In 1997 the 2 Meijer Prod. team was also responsable for a Paradise tent on the Mysteryland open-air festival (05-07-1997) near Apeldoorn with dj's a.o. Spider Willem, Astrid and live Seven Seas. And in 1998 there was the Timemachine tent at the New Frontier Festival on Muiderstrand, with dj's Ian Ossia (UK), Astrid, Tom (Lyon) and Sander Kleinenberg.

Dj Per has had his own radio-shows on Radio 100 (Amsterdam illegal Radio) and AFM (Amsterdam legal Kabel Radio) and now travels from one show to the other (538, ID&T-radio etc) to present his own mixture of uplifting progressive tunes. 

As dj Per, the man has played on all major raves, clubs and parties all around the Netherlands. In all his years as a dj he has visited many countries in the world like Israel, Hongarije, Luxembourg, Spain (incl. Ibiza), Zwitserland , United Kingdom and many others. Many people in the Netherlands consider him to be the father of progressive in Holland. But Per has also played an important role in the development of house-parties in France, where he played very regularly all over the country for many years in the early 90's.

Dj Per has released four mixed CD's in the years '94, '95, '96 and '97 under the name Per's Paradise with ID & T Holland. Called after his clubnight in Mazzo with the same name early 90's. They give an impression of his specific style through the years, and booklets with pictures, a poster with all the flyers and a early-morning CD were thrown in to complete the packages. In 1999 a Timemachine 4CD was released (3 music-cd's and a cd-rom) to celebrate the 10 year excistence of Timemachine, all compiled and produced by Per. There was one record release in '90 on Subway Records from Belgium called 'Quote Unquote' with Claes, and one with Sander Kleinenberg as 'Rails Inc' on Deal Records called 'Clearcut' (1996).

Besides all this party stuff, Per appeared in most leading magazines, papers, tv and radio shows in Holland, and has contributed to many Dutch books handling topics like XTC or the history of the house movement (surprise, surprise). Even a lecture at the Erasmus University happened once.

There was also an appearance as a guest at an arranged dinner table in the theatre piece (sort of) "Aan Tafel", with Jolien Wanninkhof, Joy Hoes en Gusta Geleijnse, directed by Lidy Six, in Frascati in Amsterdam in may '96. 

As writing is concerned, for 2 years he has written CD reviews in the Dutch Time-Out magazine, and wrote a monthly column in Samson All Areas, a magazine with the emphasis on live-music in the broadest sense of the word (‘96-’97).

In november 1999 dj Per started of his new concept called earth which is a multimedia concept in the Dutch club scene, together with dj Sander Kleinenberg, design collective Staat, vj collective Nog Harder and performance dj's Jansen met Fortuin. earth took place every second friday of the month in the legendary Melkweg in Amsterdam, but also in Nighttown in Rotterdam, Winkel van Sinkel in Utrecht and 013 in Tilburg. In the year 2000 earth was also on the Heineken Horizons (RAI Amsterdam) and on the open-air festival New Frontier (Amsterdamse Bos). In 2001 there was the IJ-Festival (together with theatre group 'Het Witte Vuur') in the NDSM warehouse in Amsterdam and ID&T's Innercity in the RAI in Amsterdam. 

earth hosted an International list of dj's, with names like Hernan Cattaneo, Dave Seaman, Chris Fortier, Sasha, Anthony Pappa, John Digweed, Ian Ossia, Nick Warren, Mara, Terry Francis, Sister Bliss, Danny Howells a.o. Also the Dutch upfront dj's like Remy, Lucien Foort, Fred Numf, Lemon 8 a.o. are regular guests. Also JunkieXL and Pako & Frederik make regular live performances. earth has had many clubnights in the Sugarfactory in Amsterdam called eartharea, and took place 4 times a year in Paradiso, also in Amsterdam. The earth collective has changed a lot through the years, and in later years consisted of vj's Schwung, performers Cherry on Top, Benchellal and Boulderdash and designers Dog and Pony.

A mixed compilation cd called earthaudio has been released in 2002 on Sonymusic Holland, and represented the ideas and look of the whole concept, which incorperates modern design, community, up front music and technology into one idea. The double cd is mixed and compiled by Per, and gives a nice impression of his specific style and feeling this day and age. 

Dj Per is best known for his long dj sets and for his ability to kick off a night with tension, groove and constraint.

From 2012, Per organises Bevrijdingsfestival Amsterdam Het Vrije Westen in Westerpark, and occasionally plays on different festivals, clubnights and private parties.