Radio Boven IJ

There's an ease to Radio Boven IJ that's hard to find. It doesn't try too hard, but the tracks it picks feel intentional. One moment it's the sweet croon of early 60s girl groups (think The Shirelles or The Ronettes) and the next a contemporary pop hit. The oldies selections tilt toward American and British Invasion, with occasional Dutch-language classics that ground it locally. News segments slot in without breaking the mood, which is no small feat. They're concise, maybe too much for news junkies, but they keep you informed. Pop radio Netherlands doesn't get much more balanced than this. Th…