Armin van Buuren: The Life Story Behind the Trance Superstar

Armin van Buuren is one of the most important DJs in the history of dance music, and he has been at the top of his field for more than twenty years. He is the king of trance, a style of electronic music that is emotional, melodic, and uplifting, and he has taken it to every corner of the world. His radio show, A State of Trance, is heard by millions of people every week, his record label, Armada Music, is one of the biggest dance labels on the planet, and he has been voted the number one DJ in the world five times.

He was born in Leiden in 1976, and he grew up in a normal Dutch family. He studied law at university, and he could have become a lawyer, but music was his true love, and he chose to follow it. He started DJing in clubs, he started making his own tracks, and he built a career that has lasted for decades. He is not a star who came and went. He is a star who stayed, who kept working, and who kept his fans with him through every change in dance music.

His story is a story of patience, of hard work, and of a deep love for music. He did not become famous in one night. He built his name slowly, one show at a time, one track at a time, one radio show at a time. Today, he is a legend of trance, a man who has shaped the sound of a whole genre, and a DJ who still plays with the same passion he had when he started. This is the story of how a boy from Leiden became the king of trance.

A Boy from Leiden Who Loved Music

Armin van Buuren was born on 25 December 1976 in Leiden, a historic city in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. He grew up in a normal family, and he went to school like any other Dutch boy. Music was always part of his life, and he loved to listen to the radio, to hear new songs, and to dream about the world of music. He was not from a musical family, and he did not grow up around famous DJs, but he had a love of music that was strong from an early age.

As a teenager, he became interested in electronic music, and he started to buy records, to listen to DJs, and to learn how dance music worked. He was drawn to trance, a style of music that was emotional and melodic, with long, beautiful melodies and a beat that made people feel uplifted. Trance was different from other dance music. It was not just about dancing. It was about feeling, about hope, and about a journey that the music took you on. Armin loved that feeling, and he wanted to be part of it.

He started to DJ at small parties and in clubs, and he learned how to read a crowd, how to build a set, and how to make people dance. He was still at school, but in his free time he was practising, mixing, and learning. He saved up for his own equipment, and he spent hours working on his skills. His parents supported him, and they let him follow his passion, even though it was not a normal hobby for a teenager. That support gave him the time to learn his craft properly.

He also went to university, and he studied law at Leiden University. He was a good student, and he could have become a lawyer, but music was always calling him. He finished his law degree, and he even worked in law for a short time, but his heart was in music, and he knew that he had to choose. He chose music, and it was the right choice, because the world of trance was waiting for him, and he was ready to give it everything he had.

The First Tracks and the Rise of Trance

In the late 1990s, Armin van Buuren began to release his own tracks, and people in the dance music world started to notice him. He made music under his own name, and he also worked with other producers, learning how to make a track that would work on a dance floor. His early tracks were melodic, emotional, and full of the uplifting feeling that would become his signature sound. He was not making music for a quick hit. He was making music that he believed in, and that belief showed in the work.

He released his first album, 76, in 2003, and it was a success. The album showed that he was not just a DJ. He was a producer with a clear vision, and he could make a whole record that told a story. He followed it with more albums, including Shivers in 2005, Imagine in 2008, and Mirage in 2010, and each one added to his reputation. His tracks were played by DJs all over the world, and his name became known in every country where trance was loved.

He also began to play at bigger and bigger events, from clubs in the Netherlands to festivals in Europe, America, and Asia. His sets were famous for their energy, their emotion, and their length. He could play for hours, taking the crowd on a journey through trance, from soft and beautiful to loud and powerful, and back again. He was not just playing songs. He was telling a story with music, and the crowd followed him all the way.

The late 1990s and early 2000s were a golden time for trance, and Armin was at the centre of it. The music was popular all over the world, and Dutch DJs were leading the way. Armin, along with Tiësto and others, showed that a Dutch DJ could be a global star, and he helped to make trance one of the biggest sounds in dance music. He was young, he was talented, and he was ready to lead.

A State of Trance and the Radio Show

In 2001, Armin van Buuren started a radio show called A State of Trance, and it became one of the most important radio shows in dance music history. The show was broadcast every week, and it featured the best new trance music, mixed by Armin himself. It was a place where fans could hear new tracks, where young producers could be discovered, and where the trance community could come together. The show grew and grew, until it was heard by millions of people in more than eighty countries around the world.

A State of Trance was more than a radio show. It was a movement, a community, and a home for trance fans everywhere. Armin used the show to share his love of trance, to introduce new artists, and to talk to his fans. He played the tracks he loved, he told stories about the music, and he made the listeners feel like they were part of something special. The show’s fans called themselves the trance family, and they followed Armin from country to country, from festival to festival, and from show to show.

The show also became a live event, with A State of Trance celebrations held in cities all over the world, from Utrecht to Miami, from Buenos Aires to Sydney. These events were huge parties, with thousands of fans, and with Armin playing for hours at the centre of it all. They were a celebration of trance, and they showed how strong the community had become. The radio show had become a world, and Armin was its leader.

Today, A State of Trance is still on the air, more than twenty years after it began, and it is still one of the most listened-to dance radio shows in the world. That longevity is a sign of how much the show means to its fans, and how much Armin means to trance. He has kept the show going through every change in music, in radio, and in the world, and he has never lost his passion for it. The show is his gift to trance, and it is a gift that keeps on giving.

Armada Music and Building a Label

In 2003, Armin van Buuren co-founded the record label Armada Music, together with Maykel Piron and David Lewis. The label was named after the first two letters of each founder’s first name, and it became one of the biggest and most respected dance labels in the world. Armada released music by Armin and by many other artists, and it gave young producers a place to share their work. It was a label built by a DJ, for DJs, and it understood the dance world from the inside.

Armada Music grew quickly, and it became a home for trance, house, and many other styles of dance music. It released hundreds of tracks, it won awards, and it became a name that every dance fan knew. Armin was not just a DJ. He was now a businessman, a label owner, and a mentor to young artists. He used his experience to help others, and he gave them the chance that he had once been given. That generosity is part of who he is, and it is one reason why he is so respected in the dance world.

The label also showed that Armin understood the business of music, not just the art of it. He knew how to run a company, how to find new talent, and how to build a brand that would last. Armada Music is still going strong today, more than twenty years after it was founded, and it is a testament to Armin’s vision and hard work. He built something that would outlast any single track or any single show, and that is a rare achievement for a DJ.

Through Armada, Armin has also helped to shape the sound of dance music. The label has released music that has become classics, and it has introduced new artists who have gone on to become stars themselves. It is a label that cares about quality, about melody, and about the feeling of the music, and those values come directly from Armin himself. He is not just a DJ. He is a builder, a leader, and a man who has given a lot to the music he loves.

Five Times Number One in the World

Armin van Buuren has been voted the number one DJ in the world five times in the DJ Mag Top 100, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. That is an extraordinary achievement, and it puts him among the greatest DJs of all time. To be number one once is a great honour. To be number one five times is a sign that you are not just popular for a moment. You are the best in the world, and the world knows it, year after year.

His years at number one came during the golden age of trance, when the music was at its most popular, and when Armin was at the height of his powers. He was playing at the biggest festivals, he was releasing hit after hit, and his radio show was reaching millions of people. He was the face of trance, and he carried that responsibility with pride and with humility. He never acted as if he was better than anyone else. He acted as if he was lucky to be doing what he loved, and that attitude made people love him even more.

The DJ Mag ranking is voted for by fans, and Armin’s fans are among the most loyal in dance music. They voted for him year after year, because they believed in his music, and because they felt that he was the best. He thanked them every time, and he used the honour to work even harder. He did not rest on his success. He kept making music, kept playing shows, and kept building his label. That work ethic is part of why he stayed at the top for so long.

Even after he was no longer number one, he remained one of the most respected DJs in the world, and he continued to play at the biggest events. The ranking is only a number, but the respect of the dance world is something deeper, and Armin has kept that respect for more than twenty years. He is a legend, and his five years at number one are a permanent part of his story.

This Is What It Feels Like and the Pop Crossover

In 2013, Armin van Buuren released the song This Is What It Feels Like, featuring the Canadian singer Trevor Guthrie, and it became one of his biggest hits. The song was a trance track with a pop vocal, and it reached the top of the charts in many countries. It was nominated for a Grammy Award, and it brought Armin’s music to a much wider audience, including people who had never listened to trance before. It was a crossover hit, and it showed that Armin could make a pop song without losing his trance soul.

The song was important because it proved that trance could work on the radio, and that a DJ could be a pop star as well as a club star. Armin did not change his sound to make the song. He made a trance track with a beautiful vocal, and the world loved it. It was a natural step for him, and it opened the door to more collaborations with singers, and to more music that reached beyond the dance floor.

He continued to release albums, including Intense in 2013, Embrace in 2015, Balance in 2019, and Feel Again in 2023, and each one showed a different side of his music. Some tracks were pure trance, some were pop, and some were experiments with new sounds. He was not afraid to try new things, and he was not afraid to change. That willingness to grow is one reason why he has stayed relevant for so long, while many other DJs from his generation have faded away.

His pop crossover also brought him new fans, and it showed that trance is not just music for clubs. It is music for the radio, for the car, and for everyday life. Armin’s songs have been played at weddings, at parties, and on the radio all over the world, and they have touched people who never go to a festival. That is a sign of a great musician, one whose music can travel beyond its first home and find new listeners everywhere.

Family, Balance, and Life Beyond the Decks

Armin van Buuren married Erika van Thiel in 2009, and they have children together. He has spoken about the importance of family, and about the challenge of balancing a life on the road with a life at home. He travels constantly, he plays at festivals all over the world, and he works on his radio show every week, but he also tries to be present for his family, and to keep his home life strong. That balance is hard to find, and he has worked at it for many years.

He has also spoken about the importance of taking care of himself, of resting, and of staying healthy. A DJ’s life is not easy. It means late nights, long flights, and a schedule that never stops. Armin has learned to manage that life, and he has built a team around him that helps him to keep going. He is a professional, and he treats his career with the seriousness it deserves, but he also knows that his family comes first.

He is known for being a kind, humble, and hardworking person, and people who meet him often say the same thing: he is friendly, he is down to earth, and he is grateful for his success. He does not act like a star. He acts like a man who loves music, and who is lucky to be able to share that love with the world. That attitude has made him popular not only with his fans, but also with other DJs, who respect him as a colleague and as a friend.

His life beyond the decks is a quiet one, centred on his family, his home in the Netherlands, and his music. He does not chase fame for its own sake, and he does not need to be in the news every day. He makes music, he plays shows, he runs his label, and he hosts his radio show, and that is enough for him. That contentment is rare in a superstar, and it is one reason why he has lasted so long.

The King of Trance and His Lasting Legacy

Today, Armin van Buuren is known as the king of trance, and it is a title he has earned. He has shaped the sound of trance for more than twenty years, he has built a radio show that is heard by millions, he has founded a record label that is one of the biggest in dance music, and he has been voted the best DJ in the world five times. He has played at every major festival, he has released hit after hit, and he has inspired a generation of DJs and producers.

His legacy is not only about the music. It is about the community he built, the trance family, who follow him around the world and who share his love of the music. It is about the young producers he has helped, the artists he has released on his label, and the fans he has touched with his radio show. He has given a lot to trance, and trance has given a lot back to him. That is a fair trade, and it is a story that will be told for a long time.

He continues to make music, to play live, and to host A State of Trance, and he shows no sign of stopping. He is still passionate, still curious, and still in love with the music that first moved him as a teenager in Leiden. The boy who listened to the radio and dreamed of dance music is now the man who makes that music for the whole world, and his story is still being written. The king of trance is still on his throne, and the music goes on.

My Take:

When I think about Armin van Buuren, the first thing that comes to my mind is time. He has been at the top of dance music for more than twenty years, and that is a very long time in a world that changes every year. New sounds come and go, new DJs rise and fall, and yet Armin is still there, still playing, still making music, and still loved by millions of people. That longevity is rare, and it tells me something important about him. He is not a star who had one good moment. He is a musician who has built a career that lasts, and that takes a special kind of talent and a special kind of character.

I admire him because he chose music over law. He studied law at Leiden University, he finished his degree, and he could have had a safe, comfortable career as a lawyer. Instead, he chose to follow his heart, and to make music for a living. That is a brave choice, because music is not a safe career. It is uncertain, it is hard, and it does not always pay well. But Armin followed his passion, and he made it work, and that is a lesson for anyone who is afraid to follow their dream. A safe life is not always a happy life, and Armin chose happiness.

What I like most about his music is the feeling in it. Trance is a music of hope, of beauty, and of uplift, and Armin is its greatest master. When I hear a trance track by Armin, I feel as if the music is lifting me up, taking me somewhere better, and giving me hope. That is a powerful thing, and it is why trance fans are so loyal. They do not just listen to the music. They feel it, and they live it, and Armin is the person who gives them that feeling. He is not just a DJ. He is a guide, a storyteller, and a friend.

I think about A State of Trance, and I think it is one of the greatest achievements in dance music. A radio show that has run for more than twenty years, that is heard in more than eighty countries, and that has built a community of millions of fans, is not just a show. It is a world, and Armin built it. He did not just play music on the radio. He created a family, a place where trance fans could come together, and where young producers could be heard. That is a gift, and it is one that will last for a long time.

I also respect the way he built Armada Music. He did not just make music for himself. He built a label that has helped hundreds of other artists, and that has become one of the biggest dance labels in the world. That is a sign of a person who thinks beyond themselves, who wants to help others, and who understands that success is better when it is shared. A star who builds a label is a star who is thinking about the future, and Armin has always thought about the future of trance.

His five years as the number one DJ in the world impress me, but what impresses me more is the way he handled it. He did not become arrogant, and he did not act as if he was better than anyone else. He thanked his fans, he kept working, and he stayed humble. That humility is rare in a superstar, and it is one reason why people love him. He is a king, but he acts like a servant of the music, and that is the best kind of king.

I think about his family, and I admire the way he has balanced his career with his home life. He travels the world, he plays at festivals, and he works on his radio show every week, but he also tries to be there for his wife and children. That balance is hard to find, and many stars fail at it. Armin has worked at it, and he has kept his family strong. That tells me that he knows what matters in life, and that music, for all its importance, is not the only thing that matters. Family matters too, and he has never forgotten that.

There is something I find moving about the trance family, the fans who call themselves a family and who follow Armin around the world. They are not just fans. They are a community, and they share a love of music that brings them together across countries, languages, and cultures. Armin created that community, and he keeps it alive with his radio show, his events, and his music. That is a beautiful thing, and it is a sign of a person who understands that music is not just about sound. It is about people, and about bringing them together.

I also think about the song This Is What It Feels Like, and about the Grammy nomination that came with it. It was a moment when trance crossed over into the mainstream, and when the whole world heard what Armin could do. He did not change his sound to make the song. He made a trance track with a beautiful vocal, and the world loved it. That is a lesson for any artist: be yourself, make the music you believe in, and the world will come to you. Armin did that, and it worked.

If I have a small wish, it is that more people outside the dance world discover Armin’s music. Trance is sometimes seen as a niche, as music for a small group of fans, but it is much bigger than that. It is music about hope, about beauty, and about feeling, and anyone can enjoy it. Armin’s albums show that trance can be many things, from a club anthem to a quiet, emotional song, and I hope more people take the time to listen. They will find a world of music that is worth exploring.

I think about the future, and I believe Armin will be part of dance music for many more years. He is still passionate, still curious, and still in love with the music that first moved him as a teenager. He has already achieved more than most DJs achieve in a lifetime, and he has done it with humility, hard work, and a deep love of trance. The dance world changes quickly, but a musician with Armin’s talent and character will always find a way to stay relevant. I look forward to hearing what he does next.

In the end, what I take from Armin van Buuren is simple. Follow your heart, work hard, and build something that lasts. He followed his heart from law to music, he worked hard for more than twenty years, and he built a radio show, a label, and a community that will outlast him. That is a legacy that few musicians ever achieve, and it is a legacy that deserves to be celebrated. He is the king of trance, and he earned that title, one track, one show, and one fan at a time.

One more thought stays with me, and it is about the word trance. The word means a state of being lost in thought, of being carried away by a feeling, and that is what Armin’s music does. It carries you away, it lifts you up, and it gives you a moment of peace in a busy world. That is a gift, and it is a gift that Armin has given to millions of people. I am grateful for it, and I think the trance family is grateful too.

I also think about the way he treats young producers. He does not see them as rivals. He sees them as the future of trance, and he gives them a chance on his radio show and on his label. That generosity is rare, and it is one reason why trance is still alive today. A genre needs new blood, and Armin has always made sure that new blood can be heard. He is not just a star. He is a teacher, a mentor, and a friend to the next generation.

There is something I admire about his patience. He did not become famous overnight. He built his career slowly, one track at a time, one show at a time, and one radio show at a time. That patience is a lesson for any young artist who wants everything at once. A career is not built in a day. It is built over years, with hard work, with learning, and with a clear vision. Armin understood that, and he never rushed. He let his career grow naturally, and it grew into something huge.

I think about the live A State of Trance events, and about the feeling of being in a hall with thousands of trance fans, all waiting for Armin to play. That is a powerful experience, and it is one that his fans describe as a kind of homecoming. They come from all over the world, they meet each other, and they share their love of the music. Armin created that community, and he keeps it alive. That is a beautiful achievement, and it is one that goes beyond music.

I also think about his albums, and about the way they show different sides of his music. Some tracks are pure trance, some are pop, and some are experiments with new sounds. He is not afraid to try new things, and he is not afraid to change. That willingness to grow is a sign of a real artist, one who is not stuck in the past. He respects trance, but he also wants to push it forward, and that is why his music still sounds fresh after more than twenty years.

I wonder what it feels like to have a radio show that is heard by millions of people every week. It must be a great responsibility, because the listeners trust you to choose the best new music, and to guide them through the world of trance. Armin has carried that responsibility for more than twenty years, and he has never let his listeners down. He prepares his show with care, he listens to hundreds of tracks, and he chooses the ones that deserve to be heard. That dedication is part of why the show is so loved.

I think about the Grammy nomination for This Is What It Feels Like, and about what it meant for trance. It was a moment when the mainstream music world recognised a trance DJ, and when the genre was given the respect it deserved. Armin did not chase the Grammy. He made a song he believed in, and the world came to him. That is the best way to win recognition, by being yourself, and by making music that is true to who you are.

I also respect the way he has stayed in the Netherlands, and the way he has kept his home life close to his work. He could have moved to Los Angeles or London, and many stars do. But he stayed in Leiden, he built his label there, and he kept his life grounded. That choice tells me that he knows what matters, and that fame has not changed him. He is still the boy from Leiden who loved music, only now the whole world is listening.

In the end, I believe Armin van Buuren is a musician who understands that music is about people. It is about the fans who listen, the young producers who dream, and the community that comes together to share a feeling. He has spent more than twenty years building that community, and he has done it with humility, hard work, and love. That is a legacy that will last, and it is a legacy that deserves to be celebrated.

One more thought stays with me, and it is about the future of trance. Some people say that trance is old, that it has had its day, and that new sounds will replace it. But as long as Armin is making music, and as long as the trance family is listening, trance will live. It is a music of hope, and hope never goes out of fashion. Armin knows that, and he keeps the hope alive, one track at a time.

When I listen to Armin’s music now, I hear more than a DJ. I hear a man who has dedicated his life to a sound, to a community, and to a feeling. That dedication is rare, and it is inspiring. He is the king of trance, and he earned that title not by being the loudest, but by being the most faithful to the music he loves. That is a lesson for all of us: find what you love, be faithful to it, and give it your whole heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was Armin van Buuren born and how old is he?

Armin van Buuren was born on 25 December 1976 in Leiden in the Netherlands. He studied law at Leiden University before choosing a career in music.

What is A State of Trance?

A State of Trance is Armin van Buuren’s weekly radio show, which started in 2001 and is heard by millions of people in more than eighty countries. It is one of the most important radio shows in dance music history.

How many times has Armin van Buuren been voted the world’s number one DJ?

He was voted number one in the DJ Mag Top 100 five times, in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. He is one of the most successful DJs in the history of the ranking.

What is Armada Music?

Armada Music is the record label Armin van Buuren co-founded in 2003 with Maykel Piron and David Lewis. It is one of the biggest and most respected dance music labels in the world.

What is Armin van Buuren’s most famous song?

His most famous song is This Is What It Feels Like, featuring Trevor Guthrie, released in 2013. It was a hit around the world and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Is Armin van Buuren married?

Yes, he married Erika van Thiel in 2009, and they have children together. He has spoken about the importance of balancing his career with his family life.

What albums has Armin van Buuren released?

His albums include 76, Shivers, Imagine, Mirage, Intense, Embrace, Balance, and Feel Again. He continues to release new music and to host A State of Trance.