Normaal, a Dutch rock group, was founded in 1974 by art students Bennie Jolink and Jan Manschot. The group gained initial recognition with their 1977 hit "Oerend hard", which became the first chart-topping song in the Achterhoeks dialect. The group is credited with pioneering Boerenrock, a genre that incorporates regional elements such as local dialects and rural themes. Their album Springleavend was released in 1991, followed by Hoken is Normaal. The band's music spans hard rock, rock 'n' roll, country, and folk influences. Notable achievements include a gold record for the single "Deurdonderen" in 1982 and numerous top-40 placements in the Dutch charts. Despite facing controversies and health issues leading to Jolink's retirement from live performances in 2016, the group continues to release studio albums and perform occasionally. The band's cultural impact is recognized by a monument in Hummelo, Bennie Jolink’s birthplace, erected in 2018.
