Cornelis Vreeswijk

Cornelis Vreeswijk (8 August 1937 – 12 November 1987) was a Dutch singer-songwriter and poet who lived and worked primarily in Sweden.

Born to Dutch parents in IJmuiden, Netherlands, he emigrated to Sweden with his parents in 1949 at the age of twelve. He was educated as a social worker and hoped to become a journalist, but became increasingly involved in music, performing at events for students with idiosyncratic humor and social engagement.

Though Vreeswijk never acquired Swedish citizenship, he is regarded as one of Sweden’s most influential troubadours, and has been described as something of a national poet, often compared to Evert Taube and Carl Michael Bellman for his poetic lyrics and social commentary. In 2010, the Swedish drama film Cornelis was made about his life, directed by Amir Chamdin.