Vengaboys


Vengaboys is a Dutch Eurodance music group based in Rotterdam consisting of lead and female vocalist Kim Sasabone, female vocalist Denise van Rijswijk and male vocalists Robin Pors and Donny Latupeirissa. Created by Dutch producers Wessel van Diepen and Dennis van den Driesschen, the group enjoyed commercial success in the late 1990s. They are best known for their hit singles "We [Like to Party |We Like to Party]", "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!", and "We're Going to Ibiza", the latter two of which topped the UK Singles Chart and have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide.
Vengaboys won two World Music Awards in a row for World's Best-Selling Benelux Group in 2000 and 2001. In 2019, Dutch online newspaper Nu.nl called Vengaboys the most successful Dutch pop group in history.

History

1996–1998: Formation, ''Up and Down'', and ''The Party Album''

The name "Vengaboys" was originally the title of the electronic musical project of Dutch producers Danski and Delmundo as DJs in the early 90s. In 1997 they decided to use the name to produce a pop group, choosing the Moluccan-Dutch singer Kim Sasabone as the vocal lead. After some auditions, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk, Roy den Burger and Robin Pors were added to complete the group.
In August 1997, the group released their debut single "Parada de Tettas", followed by "To Brazil!" in December 1997 and "Up and Down" in February 1998. In April 1998, the group released their debut album Up & Down – The Party Album in the Netherlands and Belgium. The album was certified gold in the Netherlands. This was followed by "We Like to Party!" in May, which peaked at number 2 on the Dutch charts and at number 1 in Belgium in June 1998.
In October the group released "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" and Greatest Hits! Part 1; the album peaked at number 1 on the Dutch chart.
In November 1998, Vengaboys entered the UK Singles Chart at number 4 with "Up and Down". "We Like to Party!" was released internationally in 1999 and was a Top 10 hit in many European countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It reached number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In June 1999, Vengaboys released Greatest Hits! Part 1 as The Party Album; their debut studio album. The single "Boom Boom Boom Boom" topped the charts in the UK, New Zealand and the Netherlands. In November 1999 "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!!" was also used in an advert in Japan for Nissan for their Wingroad 5-door estate.
"We're Going to Ibiza", a reworking of Typically Tropical's 1975 number 1 hit "Barbados", also reached the top slot in the Netherlands in September 1999. The LP spent 30 consecutive weeks on the U.S. [Billboard 200|Billboard 200], and was certified gold in November 1999.
The Remix Album was released in January 2000, featuring new dance remixes of the songs from Vengaboys' debut record.

2000–2002: Departure of Pors, ''The Platinum Album'' and hiatus

Shortly before the release of their next studio album, Pors left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by dolphin trainer Yorick Bakker.
The [Platinum Album |The Platinum Album] was released in early 2000, which saw continued success for the group, as its first three singles "Kiss ", "Shalala Lala" and "Uncle John from Jamaica" all charted in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Canada, with the first two going on to top the New Zealand charts. For the album's fourth single, "Cheekah [Bow Bow ]", the group gained a virtual member, the animated Cheekah.
In 2002 Post-Van Rijswijk and Bakker left the group which ceased its activities.

2007–2009: Return on stage and line-up changes

In 2007, the group returned to the club scene with new member Donny Latupeirissa a.k.a. Ma'Donny, replacing den Burger as Cowboy. Post-Van Rijswijk and Bakker rejoined the group at that point. In 2009, Pors also rejoined the group while Bakker left again.

2010–2013: ''The Best of Vengaboys''

In 2010, the band released a new single, "Rocket To Uranus", a collaboration with singer-songwriter Pete Burns and American celebrity Perez Hilton. The video premiered on 6 June at the Dutch television station TMF, and in 2D and 3D formats on their own website and YouTube channel.
In December 2011, the group released The Best of Vengaboys in Australia. They performed at First and [Third Trinity Boat Club May Ball|Trinity May Ball] in June 2012.
In January 2013, the group first performed a cover of "Hot, Hot, Hot", during their National Tour in Australia. The song was released in July 2013 as a single.
Around that time, Kim Sasabone became pregnant.

2014–2015: ''X-mas Party Album''

In January 2014, Robin Pors said in an interview in Dubai that the group intended to continue touring in Europe and that they were working on future shows in the Middle East and India, along with performing their greatest hits, their latest single, "Hot, Hot, Hot", and reportedly new unreleased tracks. He also stated that releasing new material was planned for 2014. In May 2014 a new remix from their single "To Brazil" re-titled "2 Brazil" was released.
In November 2014 a new album was released called The X-mas Party Album including all Vengaboys' hits with a Christmas sound. Also, the single "Where Did My X-mas Tree Go" was released together with a new music video. A tour of South Africa was scheduled for December.

2015–2017: Australia and New Zealand tour

In late February 2015, Denise Post-Van Rijswijk said that she was pregnant with her second child.
In 2016, the group toured Australia and New Zealand.
In November and December 2017, Vengaboys supported Steps at their Party on the Dancefloor Tour.

2019: 20th anniversary and ''Unplugged'' EP

In 2019, Vengaboys celebrated their 20th anniversary and released unplugged versions of the songs "Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom" and "We're Going to Ibiza!" and released an EP titled Unplugged #1's.

2020–2021: Covers and re-mixes

In the summer of 2020, the band released a festival version of their worldwide hit "Up & Down" with Australian DJ and producer Timmy Trumpet, with the new version credited to Timmy Trumpet x Vengaboys.
In September 2021, the band released a cover version of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's "1999", retitled "1999 " and came with a deep fake-style video which saw the cover stars from various 1990s albums lip-syncing to the song and the band put into the Friends title sequence with the sofa and fountain.
In September 2021, Vengaboys took part in 90's Nostalgia: Electric Circus tour in Canada, featuring Eurodance music.
In December 2024, Kim Sasabone announced she was taking a break to rest and would be replaced for the rest of their tour by Cilla Niekoop from Ch!pz.
On 23 July 2025, Vengaboys opened for Scissor Sisters and Kesha at New York's Madison Square Garden for The Tits Out Tour.

Members

;Current
  • Kim Sasabone
  • Denise Post-Van Rijswijk
  • Robin Pors
  • Donny Latupeirissa
;Former
  • Roy den Burger
  • Yorick Bakker
  • Mark Jong-a-Pin
  • Lynn Allien

    Touring

  • JJ van Zon
  • Cilla Niekoop

    Timeline

Discography

Regional release

Date CityCountryVenue
January 10St.KildaAustraliaThe Esplanade Hotel
January 11Bateau BayAustraliaThe Entrance Leagues Club
January 12Coogee BayAustraliaSelina’s
January 17HornsbyAustraliaHornsby RSL
January 18BrisbaneAustraliaThe Hi-Fi
January 19FremantleAustraliaMetropolis

  • Acceleration Tour
Date CityCountryVenue
January 17DubaiUnited Arab EmiratesUnknown
March 21HatfieldEnglandThe Forum Hertfordshire
July 19Bielsko-BiałaPolandLotnisko Aleksandrowice
July 20Newcastle upon TyneEnglandExhibition Park
August 2KaatsheuvelThe NetherlandsEfteling
August 29MogyoródHungaryHungagoring
October 17AssenThe NetherlandsTT Circuit
December 12JohannesburgSouth AfricaCarnival City Casino
December 13JohannesburgSouth AfricaCarnival City Casino
December 14Cape TownSouth AfricaGrand Arena at GrandWest Casino
December 15Port ElizabethSouth AfricaBoardwalk

  • The Vengabus is Coming Tour
Date CityCountryVenue
January 23LiverpoolEnglandCamp & Furnace
January 23PrestonEnglandGuild Hall
January 24SheffieldEnglandO2 Academy
January 25LiverpoolEnglandCamp & Furnance
January 26ManchesterEnglandAlbert Hall
January 27NewcastleEnglandBoiler Shop
September 12LiverpoolEnglandCamp & Furnace
September 12ManchesterEnglandAlbert Hall
September 13NewcastleEnglandBoiler Shop
September 14LiverpoolEnglandCamp & Furnace
September 14NewcastleEnglandBoiler Shop

  • 25th Anniversary Tour
Date CityCountryVenue
February 4AucklandNew ZealandAuckland Town Hall
February 8CairnsAustraliaGilligans
February 9BrisbaneAustraliaFortitude Music Hall
February 11 Sunshine CoastAustraliaNightQuarter
February 11 MelbourneAustraliaForum
February 12MelbourneAustraliaForum
February 16SydneyAustraliaBig Top
February 17 WollongongAustraliaWaves
February 18AdelaideAustraliaHindley St. Music Hall
February 19PerthAustraliaMetro City

  • ‘90’s Mania Tour
Date CityCountryVenue
January 17PerthAustraliaMetro City
January 18SydneyAustraliaEnmore Theater
January 19WollongongAustraliaWaves
January 22CanberraAustraliaSouthern Cross Club
January 23HobartAustraliaWrest Point Entertainment Centre
January 24MelbourneAustraliaFestival Hall
January 25BrisbaneAustraliaEatons Hill Hotel
January 28ChristchurchNew ZealandChristchurch Town Hall
January 29AucklandNew ZealandAuckland Town Hall

  • #NonStopWorldTour
Date CityCountryVenue
April 4Mexico CityMexicoPepsi Center
April 6MonterreyMexicoParque Fundidora
July 12GöteborgSwedenSkatås
July 13SheffieldEnglandDon Valley Bowl
July 15NijmegenThe NetherlandsOverdekt Podium
July 19KaltenkirchenGermanyOpen Air Kaltenkirchen
July 20SomerenThe NetherlandsSportpark de Heikampen
July 23New York CityUnited StatesMadison Square Garden
July 25ErdingGermanyTherme Erding
July 26MalmöSwedenPildammsparken
July 27PooleEnglandBaiter Park
August 15Sant Jordi de ses SalinesSpainHard Rock Hotel Ibiza
August 16VejleDenmarkCirkuspladsen
August 22StaffordEnglandPenkridge Sports & Recreation Centre
August 23OdenseDenmarkKongens Have
August 29ZandvoortThe NetherlandsCircuit Park Zandvoort
August 30AalborgDenmarkAgri Nord Aalborg
August 31JedburghScotlandLilliardsedge Holiday Park
September 5AachenGermany100,5 Arena
September 6St. HelensEnglandSherdley Park
September 13StockholmSwedenMs. Viking Cinderella
September 19Cluj-NapocaRomaniaBT Arena
September 20KrakówPolandTauron Arena Kraków
September 25HamburgGermanyAida Cruise 2025
September 27VughtThe NetherlandsIJM Strandhuys
October 11BarcelonaSpainParc del Fòrum
November 14Playa del Ingles Gran CanariaSpainWinter Pride Maspalomas 2025
November 28ManchesterEnglandManchester Cathedral
November 29SkegnessEnglandButlins Resort Skegness
December 6LondonEnglandThe Clapham Grand