Goemans was born on 6 June 1925 in Amsterdam . The son of a diplomat , his father forced him to write under a pseudonym to avoid any association between the family and the popular entertainment industry . Under the name Peter Shott he wrote , in 1949 , the song " Aan de Amsterdamse grachten " ; Goemans was inspired to write the song in 1949 while walking across the bridge where the Prinsengracht and the Leidsegracht intersect . It was n't supplied with sheet music and recorded until 1956 , when an arrangement was written by pianist Dick Schallies ( then a member of the Metropole Orkest ) since ( Schallies explained ) Goemans could n't write music . Henk Visscher , singer as well as guitar and bass player with Johnny Kraaijkamp , was the first to sing and record the song , In the 1960s Goemans was one of the regular lyricists for Corry Brokken , translating foreign material . One of his tunes , " Bach bijvoorbeeld " , was sung by Shirley Zwerus and produced by Willem Duys used as the opening tune for his weekly radio program . In 1970 , Hearts of Soul won the Nationaal Songfestival with the Goemans song " Waterman " ; the song finished seventh at the Eurovision Song Contest 1970
Eurovision Song Contest 1970
Eurovision Song Contest 1970
Pieter Goemans