Making people happy runs in the brothers’ blood. Doing so through music was a natural step—first as DJs, later as coaches.
Their DJ School grew into the most well-known in the Netherlands and one of the most respected in the world. Students come from every continent. As of 2026, Roeland and Olivier are among the most experienced DJ and producer coaches in the country.
The school’s Google reviews are almost embarrassing in their praise—a result of years of striving to give every student the best possible experience. Together with their team, they still work every day to maintain that reputation.
RECORDABLE CD’s
The brothers grew up in Amsterdam’s Jordaan district. Billy Ocean, George Michael, and Michael Jackson formed the soundtrack of their youth. When they started going out, the nightlife was dominated by the first wave of house music. However, Roeland and Olivier often chose the disco and R&B sounds of “Soulkitchen,” where they became regulars.
Inspired by the best all-round DJs in the city, they began their careers playing in clubs such as Meander and Odeon. They quickly became a staple in the nightlife scene, both solo and as a duo. It was the era when vinyl was making way for recordable CDs. Between 2000 and 2010, they each played around four gigs a week, and there wasn’t a club where they hadn’t stood behind the decks.
Under the name “Grooveservice,” they performed at the biggest dance classics parties in the country and organized their own events, including several at “Canvas” on top of the former Volkskrant building. They often involved a wide range of live musicians in these events.
SHARING
They ran their DJ work from an office in that same Volkskrant building. It was also where they gave their first DJ lessons using a modest DJ setup, around 2007, when they felt the urge to share their DJ method. There turned out to be strong interest—but a true learning institute did not yet exist. DJ School Amsterdam was born.
To properly pass on the core values of DJing, they developed the Big-4 learning method. At its heart is the idea that a DJ’s message must connect with the audience. Communication is the second pillar. Mixing skills and entrepreneurship come third and fourth. The school also developed a step-by-step method for music production, where the message (the idea) is again central.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
In a world where online DJ and producer tutorials make DJing (and producing) easier than ever, the Big-4 method still stands out. Nowhere else is technical skill made so secondary to the bigger picture.
Since its founding, the DJ School has seen many highlights. In particular, the recurring club nights—where talents get their first taste of the real thing—are memorable.
But also the networking events, workshops for companies at home and abroad, visits from renowned (international) conservatories, and the many former students who now perform full-time are achievements that Roeland and Olivier look back on with pride.
Roeland Meijs
He manages the Producer department of the school. After studying music technology and pedagogy, he fully dedicated himself to the craft of DJing and producing.
In recent years, he also became a certified coach with EMCC EQA accreditation. In that role, he supports our talents in dealing with personal issues and challenges.
Based on the Big-4, he developed a more in-depth workshop, The DJ Perspective, in which the method is used for team building and inspiration for both small and large companies.
Olivier Meijs
He studied journalism in Utrecht and worked as a full-time DJ for over 15 years. With around 18 years of experience as a DJ instructor, he may well be the most experienced DJ coach in the country. Olivier is a natural teacher and a driven source of inspiration.
He trains the DJ instructors and manages the operational side of the DJ lessons. He specializes in taking artists to “the next level” once they are already performing professionally, and he organizes the DJ School’s events and club nights.
He still performs regularly himself. With a highly recognizable, groovy sound, he blends disco, R&B, funk, and house. Completely immersed in both the history and present of jazz, soul, and blues, he is also a deep source of knowledge in these genres. In that context, he was also co-founder of the live music night Bluesdaynight at Het Sieraad in Amsterdam. He also works as a copywriter for various media outlets in the dance industry.
