Jan Smit, a renowned Dutch singer and television personality, was born on December 31st, 1985, in Volendam, The Netherlands, to Gerda and Ruud Smit. He began his musical career at the tender age of 10, when he was invited to sing with Carola Smit from the music group BZN.
As a child, Jan had two sisters, Monique, who is also a well-known artist in the Netherlands, and Jenny, who worked as a kindergarten teacher. He left school at the age of 16 to focus on his musical career, which was already gaining momentum in Germany.
Jan's big break came when he won the prestigious Grand Prix der volksmusik award together with Austrian singer Oswald Sattler. The duo chose Germany as their platform due to the lack of an age limit. However, he soon took a break from the music scene, only to return a few years later with a new direction in his music.
Jan began working with famous writers Cees Tol and Thomas Tol, and later started writing his own music with friend Simon Keizer, who would later become a successful singer in his own right. Together, they formed the group Nick & Simon with Nick Schilder.
At the age of 20, Jan landed his own reality soap on Dutch television, which earned him the prestigious De gouden televisierring award in 2005. The show ran for several seasons, and Jan continued to make appearances on television with various programs, including "De Zomer Voorbij" and "Tros muziekfeest op het plein".
In 2007, Jan underwent surgery to address vocal issues and was forced to take a year-long hiatus. During this time, he got engaged to Yolanthe Cabau van Kasbergen, now the wife of soccer player Wesley Sneijder.
Jan's musical career resumed in 2010, and he began a relationship with Liza Plat, a few years his senior, who had a daughter named Fem. The couple got married and welcomed two more children, Emma and Senn, in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
In 2012, Jan made his film debut in the movie "Het bombardement", which took place during World War 2. He also returned to the German music scene with a new album, "Bleiben wie du bist", which became a huge hit.
Throughout his career, Jan has been a prominent figure in the Dutch entertainment industry, known for his charming personality, captivating voice, and versatility as a performer.
