3JS

3JS
3JS at the Mega Piraten Festijn in Marum (2008)
Background information
Origin	Volendam, Netherlands
Genres	Pop
Years active	2002 (2002)–present
Labels	Volendam Music, Artist & Company
Website	3js.nl
Members	Jan Dulles Jaap Kwakman Jan de Witte

3JS (pronounced: 3J's) is a Dutch band from Volendam, consisting of Jan Dulles, Jaap Kwakman and Jan de Witte. The band became nationally known after the success of their debut album, Watermensen in 2007 with their friends Jan Smit and Nick & Simon.

The name of the band is based on the first names of the three members; Jan Dulles, Jaap Kwakman and Jan de Witte.

The three members have known each other since 1996. From 2002 they performed locally under their current name, 3JS.

On 8 June 2007, the band released its first studio album, Watermensen (English: Water people). The album was recorded entirely in-house. All compositions are self made and the production took them for its own account. The album brought the modest hits "Kom", "Net alsof", "Een met de bomen", "Watermensen" and "Wiegelied". On 6 July 2007, the album reached number six in the Mega Album Top 100 and lasted 87 weeks in the top 100.

In the summer of 2007, a television programme under the name 3JS komen eraan about the band aired on the local channel, RTV Noord-Holland for eight weeks. The programme starred Jan Smit, with the band members regular guests on the programme.

On 21 January 2008, the band along with Alain Clark, Wouter Hamel, Nick & Simon and Thomas Berge were given an original Rembrandt. This prize is awarded by Stichting Nederlandse Muziek, for songs that are distinguished by lyrics and original compositions. A day later they won the 2007 Zilveren Harp. Both awards were won for their debut album Watermensen.

In October 2008, the group released their second album, Kamers van m'n hart (English: Chambers of my heart). The first single, "Hou van mij", was a top 10 hit, which reached number four in the Single Top 100. The album was as well received as its predecessor, with the album reaching number 4 in its first week on the Mega Album Top 100, and lasting forty weeks in the charts.