Armin van Buuren
A trance music evangelist whose weekly radio show became a global heartbeat, uniting millions of fans and defining the genre for decades.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Dutch DJ and producer·Birthday: December 25·Generation X
Biography
Armin van Buuren's rise is the story of a passion project that became a planetary institution. A law student with a fervent love for electronic music, he began DJing in Dutch clubs and producing tracks that caught the ear of the burgeoning trance scene. In 2001, he launched 'A State of Trance,' a weekly radio show conceived as a simple mix of his favorite tunes. It quickly evolved into something far greater: a trusted curator, a talent incubator, and the central nervous system for a global community. His relentless touring schedule, marked by marathon sets at festivals like Tomorrowland, combined with a prolific output of anthems, solidified his position not just as a DJ but as a genre ambassador. Van Buuren's success lies in his unwavering dedication to the emotional core of trance, fostering a sense of belonging that has kept him at the forefront of dance music for over twenty years.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Armin was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Armin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Armin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has hosted 'A State of Trance,' one of the world's most listened-to radio shows, for over two decades, surpassing 1,100 episodes.
- Held the number one position in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs poll a record five times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012).
- Founded the record labels Armada Music (co-founded) and Armind, major forces in the trance and progressive house scene.
- Performed at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Did You Know?
He continued to practice law part-time even after achieving initial DJ success to have a 'backup plan'.
The 'A State of Trance' festival events regularly sell out stadiums worldwide, including multiple nights at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.
He is an avid fan of the football club Feyenoord Rotterdam.
Van Buuren was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau by the Dutch monarchy for his services to music.
“Trance is all about emotion. It's the only genre where the melody is the most important thing.”
