The Jacob Olie Trio was founded in 2016 by violinist Diet Tilanus, cellist Jurrian van der Zanden and pianist Jacobus den Herder, in the house where the famous Amsterdam photographer Jacob Olie (1834-1905) was born.

This photographer became known for capturing the city of Amsterdam at the end of the 19th century. Using advanced techniques at the time, he made beautiful photos of a city on the rise, with a great sense of perspective, light and composition.

Like the photographer, the Jacob Olie Trio is closely connected to the city of Amsterdam. They performed at the Vondel CS, the Concertgemaal and the Uilenburgersjoel. Like the photographer the Jacob Olie Trio makes music with an eye and ear for beauty, interaction and composition.

The Jacob Olie Trio made its debut in Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw aan het IJ and has since performed throughout the Netherlands. The Jacob Olie Trio is regularly broadcasted on national radio. The trio presents themselves as an ambassador for unexpected and rarely performed works, such as the piano trios of Arno Babajanian, Frank Martin, Isang Yun, Paul Schoenfield and Arvo Pärt. These are combined with the great standards of the repertoire. For performances of Olivier Messiaen's Quatuor pour la fin du temps, the trio teamed up with Olivier Patey, principal clarinetist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

All members of the Jacob Olie Trio play an instrument generously provided by the National Musical Instruments Fund. Diet Tilanus plays a violin made by Gioffredo Cappa, from 1690. Jurrian van der Zanden has a cello by Max Möller, built in 1929. And pianist Jacobus den Herder plays on a 1911 Bechstein grand piano.