What country was violinist André Rieu born in?

André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu (born 1 October 1949, Maastricht, Netherlands) is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. He and his orchestra have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring act, as successful as some of the biggest global pop and rock music acts.

Rieu's father was conductor of the Maastricht Symphony Orchestra. Showing early promise, André began studying violin at the age of five. From a very early age, he developed a fascination with orchestra. He studied violin at the Conservatoire Royal in Liège and at the Conservatorium Maastricht, (1968–1973), studying under Jo Juda and Herman Krebbers.

From 1974 to 1977, he attended the Music Academy in Brussels, studying with André Gertler. He completed his training with the distinction "Premier Prix" from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

He married Marjorie Kochmann in 1975. She has been a language teacher and has written compositions. They have two sons Marc and Pierre.

He speaks five languages: Dutch, English, German, French, and Italian.

In 1987, he created the Johann Strauss Orchestra and established his own production company. Since then, his concert-stage extravaganzas and rock-star demeanor have been widely associated with a revival of the waltz music category. André Rieu plays a 1667 Stradivarius violin.