Joling says exclusion from decisions and shrinking stage role fuelled Toppers exit

Gerard Joling says feeling excluded from decisions and frustration with the running of De Toppers helped prompt his departure from the Dutch group after 21 years. In an interview with De Telegraaf, he described long-standing irritations over guest performers and said his part in the concerts had become smaller.

Joling said he was increasingly left out of discussions, including decisions about which guest artists to invite. He also questioned the repeated booking of the same performer, suggesting it might be linked to that artist’s management, and said he sometimes heard about the line-up from other people.

He said that during some shows he spent 29 minutes waiting beneath the stage without singing, while other members or guest artists performed above him. Joling also said he had not been allowed to sing his hit “Ticket to the Tropics” at the group’s 2025 tropical-themed concert because there was “no room” for it. He wondered whether jealousy had influenced that decision but offered no evidence for the suspicion.

Joling said he had not spoken with fellow members René Froger or Jan Smit since announcing his departure. He said Jeroen van der Boom had sent him a few messages about other matters.

He announced his departure on Tuesday. The next Toppers in Concert shows are scheduled for 28 and 29 May 2027, but the group’s future line-up has not been confirmed.