The Dutch Top 40, also pronounced as Nederlandse Top 40, is a music chart that is compiled on a weekly basis. The chart was started on January 2, 1965 with the single “I Feel Fine” by The Beatles. The song quickly became the number one hit throughout the Netherlands. Because of the song’s success, the Dutch Top 40 quickly became a hit as well. The chart was originally named the “Veronica Top 40”, after the radio station ‘Radio Veronica’. The chart name was changed to the Dutch Top 40 in 1974 when the radio station was cancelled. Joost den Draaijer was the person who started the music chart program. The Dutch Top 40 has been compared to the Billboard’s Hot 100 list in the United States.

It has been said that other charts such as the National Hit Parade, the Mega Top 100 and the Hilversum Top 30 were all created because of the Dutch Top 40 list. The Stichting Nederlandse Top 40 purchased the Top 40 and renamed it the ‘De Nederlandse Top 40’. The radio station, 538, is the sponsor for the Dutch Top 40 and the television channel, TMF host the show on TV. When a song becomes more popular on the chart and moves up three places, the song will get a dot or a ‘stip’. If a song moves up five or more places and is then in the top 10, it receives a ‘superstip’ or a super dot. Also, if a song is entered on the chart above the number 25 position, and it moves up 10 or more places, then it also receives a super stip.

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