The Dutch pop group De Poema's was born from the merger of two other groups, Van Dik Hout and the duo Acda en De Munnik. In the wake of their 1998 joint hit "Zitten Voor de Blues", singers Thomas Acda and Paul de Munnik joined forces with the former's members Martin Buitenhuis (vocals), Sandro Assorgia (guitar), Benjamin Kribben (bass) and Louis de Wit (drums) to form De Poema's (The Pumas) in 1999. The first single, "Mijn Houten Hart", was a hit, reaching No. 7 on the Dutch artist charts and No. 4 overall in 1999. In 2001, the second single "Zij Maakt het Verschil" did even better, topping the Dutch Top 40, followed two years later by "Ik Mis Niets" at no. 29. All three hits are included on the band's only album, Best of De Poema's, released at the end of 2003. The band plays four sold-out farewell concerts at Amsterdam's Heineken Music Hall, before releasing "Gewon Maar Wat op Weg", the last single before the split. Reunited for two concerts in 2006, De Poema's reunited in 2023 for a concert at Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome, with both groups continuing to operate independently. In 2025, a new song appeared under the De Poema's name, "Op Jou Heb Ik Gewacht", featuring singer Snelle. The song, which serves as the theme for the De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE! festival, reaches No. 36 in the Top 40.
