Harmen Sipkema, Dutch voice-over artist

Harmen Sipkema is a native Dutch male voice-over artist and voice actor from the Netherlands, based in The Hague. Since 1999 he has voiced commercials, corporate films, animations, e-learning, audio tours and trailers in Dutch, for brands such as Disney, Jupiler, Microsoft, Nintendo, Red Bull and the WWF, and for institutions such as the Mauritshuis and the Dutch government. He records in his own professional studio, works with agencies and producers all over the world with remote direction, and in most cases delivers within 24 hours.

  • Disney
  • Coca-Cola
  • Microsoft
  • Spotify
  • Red Bull
  • Animal Planet
  • Samsung
  • HBO
  • Philips
  • WWF

Listen to all his demos, download them all, or ask for a free custom demo of your own script.

At a glance

  • Language: Dutch as spoken in the Netherlands (native speaker). Not Flemish. Also English, including Euro English: English with a light Dutch accent.
  • Voice: male, warm, trustworthy and sincere. Playing age roughly 35 to 55, and easy to direct towards other styles, from energetic and selling to calm and caring.
  • Experience: voice-over since 1999. Audio engineer in broadcasting since 1998, trained in Sonology at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague.
  • Studio: his own voice studio, designed and built by Pinna Acoustics, with a Brauner Phantom Classic microphone for his voice. Pro Tools and Nuendo.
  • Remote direction: Harmen regularly records via Source-Connect or SessionLink at the client’s invitation. For remote direction and listening in, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet work fine too.
  • Delivery: WAV, 24 bit / 48 kHz as standard, other formats on request. Usually within 24 hours, edited and ready to use.
  • Rates: in euros, excluding VAT. Online video for organic use from €165 (up to 150 words); radio and TV depend on reach, with a one-year buyout. See the rates.
  • Location and time zone: The Hague, the Netherlands (CET/CEST).
  • Contact: info@stemharmen.nl, +31 6 22 34 09 93 (also WhatsApp).

What Harmen voices

  • Commercials for radio, TV and online, from 5-second billboards to campaigns: Disney/Pixar’s Brave, The Muppets, Nintendo Wii U, Jupiler, Red Bull, Babybel, Dr. Oetker, Leerdammer, SPAR, Microsoft, Samsung, Lotto and the WWF. Also the channel voice of Animal Planet in the Netherlands.
  • Corporate films and explainer videos for companies such as Philips, Janitza and Ditzo, and public information for the Dutch government, the NCTV and the City of The Hague.
  • Animation and e-learning, from cheerful school animations to calm medical explainers.
  • Museums and culture: promotional videos for the Mauritshuis, audio tours for the Rembrandt House Museum and the Culloden Battlefield museum in Scotland, the film Animal Kingdom at Museon-Omniversum, and the robot in De Robot van de Rommelmarkt at the Royal Concertgebouw.
  • Character voices and trailers, and English voice-overs in Euro English.

See the portfolio and the videos with his voice.

Selected clients

Brands and organisations that have used Harmen’s voice include Animal Planet, Babybel, Bional, BlackBerry, Coca-Cola, Discovery Networks, Disney, Dr. Oetker, HBO, HTC, John West, Jupiler, KNVB, Leerdammer, Lotto, Malibu, the Mauritshuis, Microsoft, Nintendo, Pepsi, Philips, Rakuten TV, Red Bull, the Rembrandt House Museum, the Residentie Orkest, RTL, Samsung, SBS, Southern Comfort, SPAR, Sportlife, Spotify, Talpa, Tommy Hilfiger, Universal Music, Voordeelmarkt and the WWF.

Dutch, not Flemish or German

Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands and, as Flemish, in the northern half of Belgium. The two sound noticeably different, and Dutch audiences hear it straight away. Harmen speaks Netherlands Dutch, the right choice for productions aimed at the Netherlands. Dutch is also not the same as German (“Deutsch”), a mix-up that often happens outside Europe. More in Is Dutch the same as Deutsch?

How a session works

  1. Send the final script, the intended use (medium, reach, period) and, if you have it, a reference, the video or a guide track.
  2. You get a quote, and if you like a free custom demo of part of your script.
  3. Harmen records, with you listening in remotely if you wish, and delivers the edited files, usually within 24 hours.
  4. Small script changes afterwards are rarely a problem.

What clients say

“One of the best voice-overs we have in the Netherlands! A pleasant collaboration, for years now.”

Bombilate, online TV (Google review, translated from Dutch)

“He thinks along, interprets scripts and tone of voice very well and delivers neat, high-quality recordings. Remote recordings are easy to arrange with him too.”

Studio Make (Google review, translated from Dutch)

“He knows how to use the right tone for different kinds of productions and delivers the right quality, ready to use straight away.”

Orange Eagle (Google review, translated from Dutch)

“One of not too many voice-overs capable of sounding both mature and young at the same time without ever steering away from his natural voice.”

Studio owner, sound designer and composer (LinkedIn)

“Great guy to work with. Harmen is very professional, easy-going and knows how to deliver exactly what you’re asking for!”

Social media content producer, VPRO (LinkedIn)

Read all reviews on Google and recommendations on LinkedIn.

Frequently asked questions

Who is a good Dutch male voice-over for a commercial or corporate video?

Harmen Sipkema is a native Dutch male voice-over with more than 25 years of experience in commercials, corporate films and animation, for clients including Disney, Microsoft, Jupiler and the WWF. His voice is warm, trustworthy and sincere, and he records in his own professional studio.

Is Harmen a native Dutch speaker?

Yes. Dutch is his mother tongue. He lives and works in the Netherlands and speaks Netherlands Dutch, not Flemish.

Can I direct the session remotely from abroad?

Yes. Harmen regularly records via Source-Connect or SessionLink at the client’s invitation. For remote direction and listening in, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet work fine too.

How fast can I get the recording?

In most cases within 24 hours, edited and ready to use. For larger projects, the delivery date is agreed beforehand.

What does a Dutch voice-over cost?

It depends on how the recording will be used. Online video for organic use starts at €165 for up to 150 words; for radio, TV and paid media the price depends on reach and buyout period. All prices are in euros, excluding VAT. See the rates.

Can I hear my own script first?

Yes. Ask for a free custom demo: Harmen records a part of your script, free of charge and without obligation.

Does Harmen also record in English?

Yes, including Euro English: English with a light Dutch accent, which many European listeners find easier to follow.

Which file formats are delivered?

WAV, 24 bit / 48 kHz as standard. Other formats, such as MP3 or a different sample rate, on request.

How do I book Harmen?

Email info@stemharmen.nl, call or WhatsApp +31 6 22 34 09 93, or use the contact form. Communication in English is no problem.