Biografia
Jan Smit was born on December 31, 1985, in Volendam, The Netherlands, to Gerda and Ruud Smit. He began his career early, at age 10, when he was invited to sing a song with Carola Smit from the music group BZN, also from Volendam. He has two sisters: Monique, a well-known artist in the Netherlands, and Jenny, who previously worked as a kindergarten teacher. At 16, he left school to focus on his music career, which was already popular in Germany. There, he won the prestigious Grand Prix der Volksmusik alongside Austrian singer Oswald Sattler. They chose to compete in Germany due to the absence of an age limit. After a quiet period, at 17, he shifted his musical style and began collaborating with renowned writers Cees Tol and Thomas Tol. A few years later, he started writing songs himself with his close friend Simon Keizer, who has since become a recognized singer. Simon, together with Nick Schilder, formed the duo Nick & Simon. At 20, Jan starred in his own reality show on Dutch TV, where he received the Netherlands' biggest award, De Gouden Televizier-Ring, in 2005. The show ran for several seasons. He appeared increasingly on television programs such as "De Zomer Voorbij" and "TROS Muziekfeest op het Plein." On "De Zomer Voorbij," he traveled with friends Nick & Simon and the 3 J's, inviting other industry colleagues, enjoying a musical holiday in Spain, Greece, and France. In 2007, he experienced vocal problems that required surgery, sidelining him for a year. During this time, he got engaged to Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen, now the wife of soccer player Wesley Sneijder. Jan is also connected to soccer club FC Volendam, alongside Nick & Simon and the 3 J's; together, they are known as the VoTown All Stars. In 2010, he began a relationship with Liza Plat, a few years his senior and a village resident who was going through a divorce. She has a daughter named Fem, whom Jan became stepfather to upon their marriage. Shortly after their wedding, Liza gave birth to their second child, a daughter named Emma, Jan's first biological child. They welcomed a third child, a son named Senn, in 2013. In 2012, Jan landed the lead role in his first film, "Het Bombardement," set during World War II. In 2013, he made a successful comeback in Germany with a new German album titled "Bleiben wie du bist," which became a major hit.
