K3 Ties Belle Pérez’s Record with 5th Zomerhit Win
Belgian pop group K3 has won the VRT Zomerhit award for the fifth time, tying the all-time record previously held solely by Belle Pérez. The victory came with the song ‘De zomer van Oya Lélé’ (‘The Summer of Oya Lélé’), announced during the live finale in Blankenberge on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
A Decade in the Making
The victory comes exactly 10 years after K3’s previous Zomerhit win in 2016 with ‘Ushuaia’. The group’s earlier victories date back to 1999 with ‘Heyah mama’, followed by ‘Alle Kleuren’ in 2000 and ‘Tele-Romeo’ in 2001, as VRT NWS reported. With five wins spanning more than a quarter century, K3 now shares the record with Belle Pérez, who won five consecutive times between 2002 and 2006.
“It’s really bizarre! We thought it wasn’t going to happen and then it did,” the group said in a collective statement after the win. “Thank you to everyone for voting. Also thanks to Gert Verhulst, who wrote the song. He’s also a winner tonight! And of course also Marthe: this one is for you too!”
A Special Lineup
The performance featured an unusual configuration on stage: Klaasje Meijer, a former K3 member, temporarily filled in for Marthe De Pillecyn, who is on maternity leave. Klaasje was also part of the lineup when K3 won Zomerhit in 2016, as HLN noted.
Marthe was present at the finale, cheering her colleagues on from the wings. “I absolutely had to come and support my colleagues tonight,” she told HLN. “I felt all day that K3’s victory was in the air. I kept getting signs: for example, I spotted a license plate on the highway with HKJ - the initials of Hanne, Klaasje and Julia. So I already had a premonition.” Marthe is expected to return to the group in October.
Nostalgia Meets Modern Pop
‘De zomer van Oya Lélé’ is an ode to K3’s iconic 2003 hit ‘Oya Lélé’, combining recognizable elements with a fresh, contemporary pop sound. The song was written by Gert Verhulst, Studio 100 co-founder, along with Wouter Vander Veken and Hans Bourlon. It was released on June 3, 2026, and peaked at number 34 on the Ultratop 50 Flanders chart, according to Wikipedia.
“What an incredibly beautiful surprise!” said Hanne Verbruggen. “We’ve had such an intense and wonderful summer behind us, with lots of performances and of course also the Doornroosje musical. That we can now close that summer with this trophy makes it extra special.”
Julia Boschman, who won her first Zomerhit with K3, added: “‘The Summer of Oya Lélé’ is such a wonderful song to sing and dance along with the audience. We’ve been able to perform it very often this summer and every time you immediately felt that energy.”
A Summer to Remember
The 2026 Zomerhit season ran for eight weeks, from July 6 to August 29, with the VRT 1 stage set up next to the Belgium Pier in Blankenberge. More than 20,000 people attended the recordings and finale, while approximately 95,000 visitors attended the Radio 2 concerts, according to the VRT press release.
Seventy-two different artists performed at the Radio 2 studio stage during the event, which was broadcast live on VRT 1, Radio 2, and VRT MAX. The trophy was presented by Sven de Leijer, with Siska Schoeters and Niels Destadsbader hosting the finale.
The 10 finalists included Aaron Blommaert & Zoë Livay, Bart Kaëll, Bas Serra, Gert & James, K3, Laura Tesoro, MAKSIM & Babet, Metejoor, Niels Destadsbader, and Sam Gooris, as TVvisie reported.
What’s Next for K3
With the Zomerhit trophy secured, K3 continues its busy schedule. The group performed the final show of the Doornroosje musical on August 30, the day after the Zomerhit finale. Marthe De Pillecyn is expected to return to the lineup in October after her maternity leave, while Hanne Verbruggen is also expecting her second child.
The record-tying victory cements K3’s status as one of the most enduring and beloved musical acts in the Low Countries. The group has been a fixture of the Belgian summer music scene for over 25 years, entertaining generations of children and parents alike. With Belle Pérez’s record now matched, the question is whether K3 can go one step further and claim the record outright in the years to come.