Telegraaf/Privé By Evert Santegoeds December 6, 2025 Waltz King Already Full of Plans for 2026 André Rieu: 'Marco Borsato at the Vrijthof? I'd love that!' This month, André Rieu (76) will be saying goodbye to Emma Kok after his Christmas shows in Maastricht. But new collaborations and projects are already in the works. A hotel in Maastricht, children's books, and of course, the Vrijthof again next summer, with... the acquitted Marco Borsato? For his Christmas shows in Maastricht, André Rieu has now “settled” in the MECC there. But the king of the waltz has already moved on to other projects, including his annual summer series at the Vrijthof. Next year, he will be there again as many evenings as possible, entertaining audiences from all over the world with his unique sound, together with the Johann Strauss Orchestra. Over the years, he welcomed various guests, including André van Duin, the late Benny Neyman, David Hasselhoff, and – in recent years – Emma Kok. But is that collaboration now coming to an end? “Yes, after two and a half years of touring together, we decided to go our separate ways again. From the moment Pierre played Emma's voice on his phone, I was sold. She had just won The Voice Kids, and I was introduced to Voilà, which she has now sung with the orchestra about 120 times.” "We brought her into the studio, and I put my own stamp on it, with a modulation and everything. I'm glad I was able to help her further her career. Now she has to, and wants to, go it alone." She thrilled audiences with Voilà, Dancing on the Stars, and Frozen. She recently published her biography. Do you get enough credit in it? "I think so, yes. I haven't gotten around to reading the book yet, but I'm already hearing from everyone how kindly she speaks of me in it. I have only the fondest memories of her. 'We're going to do something with this,' I said immediately when Pierre let me hear that voice. A little while later, it happened: she was standing on the Vrijthof square, in the still-empty square during the soundcheck. It was immediately fantastic." "And I asked her: 'Do you want to go on tour?' I can still hear her enthusiastic reply: 'YESSS!' She was given every opportunity and took it, and now she's moving on. I'm proud that I was able to give her that push, a very big push indeed. I hope she surrounds herself with the right musicians and makes the most of her career." Who will be the guest artist next summer? "We haven't decided yet, nor whether it will happen at all. We've had some big surprises in the past. André van Duin, yes. I don't think he likes rehearsing very much. 'Do I have to go all the way to Maastricht for that?' Yes, it was inevitable. Once in the city, he couldn't believe his eyes. He thought it was all so wonderful, so cozy, and so beautiful that he immediately made plans to buy a house here. He was with his husband, Martin, at the time." It didn't happen due to Martin’s passing away, but André, just like this André, has been completely in love with Maastricht ever since. “The same goes for David Hasselhoff, by the way. He walked through the city and thought it was a kind of Disneyland. That American couldn't even believe that behind those facades there were real buildings where people lived and worked. He thought they were cardboard facades. But next year? I don't know yet." Marco Borsato is also available again, since his acquittal. "Yes, indeed. I've worked with him before. Right at the beginning, I think. His hit "Dromen zijn bedrog" (Dreams are Deceitful), was, as I recall, a success the same summer we released the Second Waltz. It didn't work out then, I think because we had several record labels objecting. But now? If you have his number, I'll definitely give him a call." It would be quite a stunt. "Just making a statement, that would be fantastic. Marco Borsato on the Vrijthof square, I'd totally love that." Then we already know where he'll be sleeping; you guys just bought a hotel in the city. "Well, that's Pierre. Hotel Derlon on Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. He's been working for me since he was nineteen, and Pierre has done a fantastic job. This is truly his own project; a beautiful hotel, iconic here in Maastricht in that great location. We've always accommodated our guests there." "That same David Hasselhoff wanted a hot tub in his suite, so we put one on the roof terrace for him. It was already there, in the André Rieu suite, and now the entire hotel belongs to Pierre. He has big plans for it. It's being completely restored; it's already become much more inviting thanks to what he's done with it." "He really wants to give the building back that old atmosphere of hospitality and friendliness. It had become a bit too businesslike and American. Derlon has been with him for a few months now, and he's already noticing that guest ratings on booking sites have gone up by two whole points." "This week, when I returned from Zagreb, Budapest, and Vienna, we lit the Christmas decorations on the facade together. You won't believe your eyes. Yes, Marjorie and I are very proud of what he's doing there." (Click on HERE to read this article) Did you also manage to enchant Vienna too? "Absolutely. Right there, in that city of the waltz, I'm still amazed myself. Three minutes before we start, we gather at the back of the hall and then walk through the audience to the front." "At times like that, when I'm standing there waiting, I sometimes realize: how is it possible that 14,000 people come to a venue like that every night just for me? When you walk through it, you see the faces of people who are so eager to be entertained for an evening with our music." How long have you been doing that, walking through that venue? "I think it's been since we started in those arenas. We must have tried it for the first time around 2000. I remember: it was in Cologne. It was an instant success, and from that moment on, we've continued doing it. First as a surprise, now as a tradition." Does that always go well? Doesn't anyone rush forward? "It did go wrong once, yes. In Shanghai. Someone grabbed my hand so hard that it hurt for days. But generally, it's going well. Still, it's a risk. Walking through a hall with thousands of people high-fiving them, sometimes night after night, I have no idea how many bacteria I'm touching. It's better not to think about that." The latest project is a series of children's books. "We're presenting them this weekend at the MECC. It's the series "Little André," for which a very cute little character has been designed. It's called "Little André and the Secret of the Shadow," and it's being released immediately in several languages." "It's set at the end of the 19th century in a snowy Maastricht, where a little boy, shortly before Christmas, becomes embroiled in a mystery greater than he could ever have imagined. And in the same series, there's also a series of music books with which you can play along with the Strauss Orchestra." (Click HERE to read more about the book) You just keep going. "But isn't that the best thing there is? Being busy with one thing, making plans for the next project. Music keeps you young and always keeps you busy. I'm going to be 140."

Marco Borsato: Instagram screenshot from Marco’s son Luca: My hero forever.

What came before. Marco Borsato, of Italian descent, was one of the Netherlands' most beloved singers. He had a large fan club and regular contact with its president and her family. At one point the woman accused Marco of indecent assault on her minor daughter. Marco always denied the accusation. The woman filed a complaint, and the whole affair caused Marco's life to grind to a halt for six years. His family life was gone, his career was gone, his music was no longer played. On December 5 2025, Marco was finally acquitted by a judge, but his life was ruined for six years.

Photos of the MECC Christmasconcert of 2024, by Marcel van Hoorn, ARP.

Latest news, from De Limburger December 6, 2025 André Rieu would love to see Marco Borsato as a guest artist at the Vrijthof square in 2026. Marco Borsato’s management announced to the ANP (General Dutch Press Agency) that he will not be performing next year. Borsato was accused of indecent assault by a woman when she was still a minor, but the judge acquitted him last week due to lack of evidence. The Public Prosecution Service may still appeal. During the trial, Borsato did say he didn't know if he would ever be able to perform again. The singer said he "hasn't touched a microphone" since 2019. "I can't do it either. The desire and the will to sing are gone. I don't know if I'll ever be able to practice my job again, even if the court acquits me." In an interview with De Telegraaf, André Rieu indicated, when asked, that he would be interested in collaborating with the singer. Rieu would love to have Borsato as a guest artist alongside him during the concert series at the Vrijthof square this summer. Pierre Rieu announced on Saturday, speaking on behalf of his father, that the violinist would approach Borsato directly to ask if he would be interested in singing at his Vrijthof concerts. "It was a spontaneous request, but we're going to take it seriously," said Pierre Rieu. "André would be thrilled. They stormed the charts together in the nineties, and the intention to collaborate has been there before."