Since when has the Dutch Top 40 existed?

Since January 2, 1965. The first number 1 was I Feel Fine by The Beatles.

What if I was born before 1965?

Then the Top 40 didn't exist yet. Check officialcharts.com for UK charts going back to November 1952, or billboard.com for US charts going back to August 1958. The music from your teenage years usually says more about your taste anyway.

Can I save my birthday record here?

Yes. Look it up and check that it's the right version. If you can only find a later recording, choose that one and note which version you mean.

Looking back

Which song was number 1 when you were born?

You can look up the number 1 from the week you were born in a few minutes. The Dutch Top 40 has existed since January 2, 1965, and top40.nl has the chart for every week since then. Born earlier? Then the UK or US charts can help.

How to look it up

Go to top40.nl and find the Top 40 for the year you were born in the charts section. Each chart has a date. Take the chart dated on or just before your birthday: that's the one that was current the week you were born. You'll see what was at number 1, and the rest of the chart too.

Born before 1965? The Top 40 didn't exist yet. Check what was number 1 in the UK or the US instead. The UK singles chart goes back to November 1952 and is on officialcharts.com; the US Billboard Hot 100 goes back to August 1958 and is on billboard.com. Born even earlier? Then start with your teenage years.

Is that the record of your life?

Usually not. On the day you were born, you didn't have opinions about music yet. It's a fun fact, but it says more about your parents' radio than about you.

So also look at the charts from your teenage years. Spotify data analyzed by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz for The New York Times in 2018 showed that men form their musical taste mainly between thirteen and sixteen, and women between eleven and fourteen. The record of your life is more likely to be there than in the year you were born.

From fun fact to your own five

Write down the number 1 from your birthday, plus the records from your teenage years you can still sing along to right away. On this site you can look them up and hear a preview. Whatever sticks goes on your list, with a few words about why.

The number 1 from your birthday can go on it too, as the start of your story. Just add why, or later everyone will wonder what that song is doing on your list.

Which five records tell your story?Quick · secure · always yours

Since when has the Dutch Top 40 existed?: Since January 2, 1965. The first number 1 was I Feel Fine by The Beatles.
What if I was born before 1965?: Then the Top 40 didn't exist yet. Check officialcharts.com for UK charts going back to November 1952, or billboard.com for US charts going back to August 1958. The music from your teenage years usually says more about your taste anyway.
Can I save my birthday record here?: Yes. Look it up and check that it's the right version. If you can only find a later recording, choose that one and note which version you mean.