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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ, record producer and musician known for trance and progressive dance music.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ, record producer and musician known for trance and progressive dance music. He has hosted the weekly radio show A State of Trance since 2001 and has won DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll five times. He was born in Leiden, the Netherlands, in 1976.

Early life and background

Armin van Buuren was born in Leiden, Netherlands, in 1976. Sources describe him as coming from a musical family and developing an early passion for music.

Career

He became known as a DJ and producer in the trance scene and later broadened his profile through releases, performances and compilation work. He also founded or helped build influential electronic music labels, including Armada Music.

A State of Trance

Since 2001, van Buuren has hosted A State of Trance, a weekly radio show that became one of his defining projects. It helped establish him as a major international figure in electronic dance music.

Awards and recognition

Van Buuren has been ranked first in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll five times. He has also received mainstream recognition, including a Grammy nomination.

Key facts

  • Born in Leiden to a musical family.
  • Began developing an interest in music at a young age and later became a DJ and producer.
  • Has hosted the weekly radio show A State of Trance since 2001.
  • Won DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll five times, including four consecutive years from 2007 to 2010.
  • Received a Grammy nomination for the track This Is What It Feels Like.
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Canadian context

Armin van Buuren has a Canadian audience through global electronic music touring, radio syndication and festival appearances that are popular in Canada. He is also relevant to Canadian readers as one of the world’s best-known trance DJs and producers.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Armin van Buuren?
He is a Dutch DJ, record producer and musician best known for trance music and for hosting A State of Trance.
When was Armin van Buuren born?
He was born on 25 December 1976 in Leiden, Netherlands.
What is A State of Trance?
A State of Trance is Armin van Buuren’s weekly radio show, which he has hosted since 2001.
How many times has he been ranked No. 1 by DJ Mag?
He has won DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs poll five times.
What genres is he associated with?
He is mainly associated with trance, house and progressive house.
Has he received major award recognition?
Yes. He has received a Grammy nomination, including for This Is What It Feels Like.

References

  1. Armin van Buuren official website — https://www.arminvanbuuren.com/biography/
    Supports: Birthplace, date of birth, musical background, radio show, and label roles.
  2. NPO 3FM — https://www.npo3fm.nl/muziek/artiesten/49e2dd47-6281-4100-9182-030d7aff2ae2/armin-van-buuren
    Supports: Early life, Dutch origin, and early career details including the single Blue Fear.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2226634/bio/
    Supports: Birth date and birthplace, marriage information, hosting A State of Trance, and Armada-related roles.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_van_Buuren
    Supports: General biography, A State of Trance, and the claim that it reaches nearly 40 million listeners in 84 countries.
  5. DJ Mag — https://djmag.com/longreads/armin-van-buurens-trance-evolution-and-dark-side-success
    Supports: Five-time Top 100 DJs wins and his status in electronic music.