March 23, 2026 Weekly Magazine LIBELLE By Merel Brons Translated by Diana D. Le Photo: ARP. André Rieu (76): “I stay in touch with my grandchildren, ages 16, 15, and 10, via Snapchat” André Rieu (76) is a conductor, violinist, and music producer. Every year, he organizes a number of large concerts in Maastricht. He has two sons, is married to Marjorie, and lives in Maastricht. 1. What’s the best thing about South Limburg? “It’s in our blood to organize fun events and do good deeds, like the ’t Preuvenemint food festival on the Vrijthof in Maastricht. The proceeds go to charity.” 2. What do you enjoy doing most in your hometown? “Performing. Not just on the Vrijthof, but also at the MECC again this coming winter for Christmas. It’s always a lot of fun.” 3. What kind of music did you like as a teenager? “My father was a conductor, so I grew up listening to classical music. During my teenage years, I went through my ‘Baroque phase.’ The Beatles and the Stones didn’t come to us.” 4. Which movie made a big impression on you? “The Sound of Music. I was head over heels in love with Julie Andrews, and besides that, that movie has everything a movie needs. I still love watching it.” 5. What’s always in your refrigerator? “I make my own grape juice from organic grapes. A small glass every day is supposed to be very healthy.” 6. Which app do you use the most? “Snapchat. That’s how I stay in touch with my grandchildren, who are sixteen, fifteen, and ten.” 7. What are you most proud of? “My two sons and five grandchildren. And my marriage to Marjorie. Everything else stems from that.” 8. What was the last thing you worried about? “I don’t worry much. I try to use humor to resolve things before problems arise.” 9. What do you find hard to resist? “Eating cake. I bake myself and am in touch with top pastry chef Cees Holtkamp. This weekend. I made two hundred and eighty cheese croquettes using his recipe.” 10. What was your very first part-time job? “The owner of an organ shop in Maastricht asked if I could tune those instruments. It turned out I was actually pretty good at it. I was sixteen, and that was my first twenty-five guilders.” 11. Which place in the Netherlands would you recommend to everyone? “I once took a bike trip through the Netherlands and found so many beautiful places, from the Veluwe and Hoorn to Drenthe. If you get off the main road, you see more.” 12. What’s the most impulsive thing you’ve ever done? “Building a replica of Schönbrunn Palace. That ended badly—I went bankrupt.” 13. What decision turned out to be crucial in your life? “Marrying Marjorie. I had a difficult childhood with little love. When Marjorie stood by me, I was able to thrive. We’ve now been married for fifty years.” 14. What do you like best about getting older? “Learning from my mistakes. I’m at such a good point in my life right now. I’m successful, I work with great people, and I’m healthy.” 15. What do you do to relax? “Sleep. I can sleep whenever I want and take lots of naps.” 16. Who has inspired you the most? “So many people. For example, my teacher and violinist Herman Krebbers. And Willi Boskovsky, the conductor who always performed at the New Year’s concerts with his violin in hand.” 17. What’s the nicest compliment you’ve ever received? “I get emails every day from people who feel better because of my music. I’m incredibly proud of that.” 18. Which trend would you most like to see disappear? “The smartphone. Handy for making calls, but a nightmare for young people. I used to play with my friends on the street; now they’re glued to that thing.” 19. Which fan stands out most in your memory? “Sister Leona. She would sneak out of the convent to come to my concerts. I danced with her twice on the Vrijthof. She was a hundred back then, and later she turned 105!” 20. What other profession would you like to try? “I love building things. I think I would have really enjoyed being an architect.” André Rieu’s Christmas concerts at the MECC in Maastricht, Netherlands: December 11-13 and 18-20, 2026

Sharing a March 21, 2026 article from RTL Nieuws. March 21, 2026 Translated by Diana D. Le André Rieu proud of marriage with his great love Marjorie: "Then I could flourish" Orchestra leader André Rieu (76) travels all over the world with his famous shows, but behind the scenes his life has been about one woman for years: his Marjorie (78). In an interview with LIBELLE, the violinist recounts that their marriage has been a pivotal moment in his life. André and Marjorie have been married for fifty years. According to the musician, that marriage came at just the right time in his life. “I had a bad childhood with little love. When Marjorie stood behind me, I could flourish," he says in the magazine. Marriage still means everything to André. According to him, many beautiful things in his life have come out of it. With Marjorie he had two sons and André can now call himself grandfather of five grandchildren. It also keeps him up to date. His most used app, for example, is Snapchat. "To stay in touch with my grandchildren of sixteen, fifteen, and ten," André explains. Although André prefers to see the smartphone disappear, it is a way to keep in touch with his family when he is on the road. "Handy to call, but a horror for the youth. I used to play with my friends on the street, now they're behind that thing," he grumbles. In addition to his long marriage, André also looks at the rest of his life with satisfaction. The best thing about getting older? "By harm and shame become wiser. I'm at such a good point in my life now. I have success, I work with nice people and am healthy.” And otherwise, there are always his fans to cheer him up. “I get emails every day from people who feel better because of my music. I am very proud of that.” Note: Ivan, Marc’s son is the oldest grandchild: born in 2009. Linde and Lieke, Pierre’s twin daughters were also born in 2009 Fleur, Marc’s daughter was born in 2010. Merlyn, Marc’s son was born in 2016.