The Psalm Project

Christelijk (Dutch for 'Christian') refers to the broad genre of Christian music produced in the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium). It encompasses a wide variety of styles ranging from traditional hymns (psalms and gezangen) to modern Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), worship, pop, rock, and folk. The genre is characterized by lyrics in the Dutch language that express Christian faith, praise, worship, and biblical themes. It serves as a key element in church services, youth events, and festivals, bridging the gap between secular musical trends and religious expression.

A psalm is a sacred song or hymn whose lyrics come from the biblical Book of Psalms (the Psalter), part of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh, Ketuvim) and the Christian Old Testament. Across Jewish and Christian traditions, psalms have been sung, chanted, or set polyphonically for over two millennia, ranging from ancient Temple cantillation and synagogue modes to Gregorian psalm tones, Anglican chant, metrical congregational psalmody, and modern concert works. Because the Psalter contains laments, thanksgivings, royal hymns, and songs of praise, psalm music spans a wide expressive range—from contemplative and penitential to triumphant and ceremonial.