Sharon den Adel
The ethereal voice and visionary frontwoman of Within Temptation, who helped define symphonic metal with her powerful vocals and gothic-inspired aesthetic.
Born 1974 (age 52)·Dutch singer·Birthday: July 12·Generation X
Biography
Sharon den Adel is the haunting voice and creative force behind Within Temptation, a band that painted heavy metal with orchestral grandeur. Growing up in the Netherlands, she was drawn to music and fashion from a young age, performing in bands by 14. In 1996, she co-founded the group with guitarist Robert Westerholt, her life and creative partner. Their 1997 debut introduced a blend of metal and classical elements, but it was the 2000 album 'Mother Earth' that catapulted them to fame, with den Adel's crystalline soprano soaring over cinematic soundscapes. More than just a singer, she is the band's visual architect, designing the elaborate, fantasy-tinged stage costumes and artwork that complete their immersive world. Her influence helped move symphonic metal from a niche genre to a mainstream European powerhouse.
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.
Sharon was born in 1974, 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 Sharon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Sharon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
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
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As lead vocalist and co-founder, led Within Temptation to multi-platinum album sales across Europe, particularly for 'Mother Earth' and 'The Silent Force'.
- Pioneered the symphonic metal genre's visual aesthetic, personally designing many of the band's iconic stage costumes and album artwork.
- Performed as a guest vocalist on tracks for renowned artists like Armin van Buuren ('In and Out of Love') and the German metal band Kamelot.
- Served as the Dutch chairperson of the jury for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018.
Did You Know?
She is a trained fashion designer and once ran her own clothing boutique called 'Cappuccino'.
She and bandmate Robert Westerholt have three children together.
She provided the Dutch voice for the character Merida in the Disney film 'Brave'.
“I don't see myself as a metal singer. I see myself as a singer in a band that plays metal music.”
