Libelle (weekly women's magazine), August 6, 2025 By Babette Bouwman Translated by Ineke, edited by Alice Leung. Calling Emma Kok: "I often think: why do I have to be the exception again?" Every week, Libelle calls a well-known Dutch person or television personality to catch up. This time, singer Emma Kok (17) is on the line. Although her chronic stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) causes a lot of pain and frustration, she thoroughly enjoys her performances with André Rieu. Emma: "Hi, how nice to call!" Libelle: Of course! We were wondering how you're doing since your hospital visit two weeks ago? Emma: "My frustrations due to the poor communication have subsided somewhat, but unfortunately, the symptoms haven't subsided. No solution has been found for the painful stitches between my esophagus and lower abdomen." (Read the article below) Libelle: How awful. What are your days like now? Emma: "Lying on the couch doesn't make the pain go away. So I still try to sing every day and go to the gym. I'm also tube-fed 22 hours a day because of my gastroparesis. Normally, I can also eat very small things, like some tea with honey or a slice of sandwich topping. Right now, I can't even tolerate that." Libelle: That's probably quite a reflection of your social life. Emma: "Definitely. The medical grind started when I was three months old, but tube-feeding and not being able to eat, remain a mental struggle. My parents don't go out to eat very often because they know I find it very difficult. Still, I go with them when they do go to a restaurant, just for the company. Even at performances, I prefer to sit with the catering crew rather than alone in my dressing room." Libelle: What's it like for you, "sitting in" during meals? Emma: "It's confronting to see others enjoying a snack or meal. I often think, "I wish I could do that too. Why do I have to be the exception again?" Libelle: And how does that work at school? Emma: "I used to walk around the classroom with a child's walker to carry the heavy pump for my tube feeding. Many classmates bullied me for that. They called me 'granny' or 'gnome' because of my stunted growth. I've been exempted now. Combining lessons with all the singing was impossible, so I'm very happy about that." Libelle: How sad that you had to go through that, Emma. Emma: "School wasn't my favorite place, indeed. When I was twelve, I wanted to be everyone's friend, but I didn't fit in. Since then, I've had trouble truly letting people in. My trust in others and in myself has been damaged." Libelle: Your good friend Jade is also going through a difficult time. Do you find a lot of support from each other? Emma: "Absolutely. They are two completely different situations: she has terminal cancer and I have chronic gastric paralysis. You can't compare them, yet we understand a little what the other is going through. She just wants to be an 18-year-old girl, I just want to be a 17-year-old girl. When we're together, that works. Then we forget for a moment that we're 'different'." Song for Jade I wrote this song for my best friend Jade Kops. Unfortunately, she got the news that she's out of treatment for her cancer. But that doesn't stop her from living her life!! That's why I look up and learn so much from her!! I am so proud of her and proud that she is my best friend. Please listen to "Jade" because the entire amount will be donated to Stichting Jade (Jade Foundation). https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJcCoAispNm/?utm_source=ig_embed Libelle: How did you actually meet? Emma: “Through a festival hosted by Tina magazine. We were both nominated in the Girl Power category and met backstage. We hit it off right away. Now we text 24/7 and try to see each other as often as possible. We shop, go to great musicals, and I love that she enjoys coming to my shows.” Libelle: How do you keep yourself going in difficult times? Emma: “Music is my medicine. If I hadn't discovered that, I would have been in a bad way.” Libelle: And when did that discovery happen? Emma: “Coincidentally, when I was twelve. I'd just had a month of singing lessons. We were in quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic, and I was bored to death. Somewhere in that boredom, I noticed a call from "The Voice Kids." I honestly didn't even expect a response, let alone that I would win the season.” Libelle: Since then, your life has been turned upside down. Emma: "You can say that again. Pierre Rieu once showed his father, André Rieu, a video of me singing Voilà by the French singer Barbara Pravi. He loved it and contacted me to ask if I'd sing for him sometime." Libelle: "I'll have to think about that," you said, right? Emma: "No, man! If André Rieu asks you to come, you come. He's an icon; you absolutely can't say no to that." Libelle: Haha, that's right. Do you enjoy sharing the stage with such an icon? Emma: "It's amazing. On stage, with an orchestra and in front of such a large audience, I can only enjoy it. It's so special to be a part of it. I'm forever grateful to André." Libelle: The annual Vrijthof concerts are over now. Time to relax? Emma: “Yes, I'm on a lovely holiday now. After that, I have a few more performances planned with André, and there's something fun coming up that I can't talk about yet...”

July 28, 2025 From Instagram: Emmakokofficial (with the blue verification mark) THE HOSPITAL I have had severe pain and stitches from my esophagus to my lower abdomen for over a month now. It started with “gastropain”, stitches in my chest, ribs and back. This pain is very recognizable to me because I have it several times a year due to my gastroparesis. But it only got worse and I also got pain and stitches on my abdomen and lower abdomen. I didn't recognize that. I got nauseous when I tried to eat something, one time I had drunk a sip of water and got nauseous. The pain and stitches only got worse so, today I went to the hospital with mom. I had to have an ultrasound and I had my blood and urine taken. On the ultrasound everything was fine with my organs!!! I really like that!!!! We got my file in the mail earlier and we saw that some blood values were abnormal (not good). We came to the doctor and I was told that all the blood values were perfect. I didn't understand that very well since the file said something else. My abdomen was felt and at one point a sheet was taken and drawn. If it was signed then I already knew enough. Because they were going to explain to me that through my brain I send painful signals to my stomach and intestines and that causes my pain. So when I translate that into Dutch they actually say it's between my ears. Then they came up with the big solution. I have to go into Hypnosis therapy. I was just barely rolling my eyes when that was said. SERIOUS???? HYPNOSIS THERAPY. When I think of something positive my pain goes away. And if I'm lucky my gastroparesis goes away too. Somehow they have managed to make me walk out of the hospital angry and unheard. I feel retarded. I feel stupid. The worst part is that you start doubting yourself. Gastroparesis patients run into the same thing everywhere. We are not being heard. And this MUST change!!!!

September 20, 2025 Emma Kok announced a second concert at Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Netherlands for October 22, 2025! Her first live solo concert on October 21, 2025 was sold out in 3 hours after the announcement on October 25, 2024! The concert will be a mix of Emma’s favorite musical styles. She will perform her own songs, in addition to songs that have a lot of meaning for her personally. Accompanied by a large symphonic orchestra and band, she will present orchestral pop music with guest performances that will be announced at a later date. -0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

October 8, 2025, Privé/de Telegraaf, interviewer Max v.d. Broek. Photo: screenshot. Emma Kok is proud of an upcoming new highlight: It feels very surreal. Seventeen-year-old singer Emma Kok is giving two sold-out solo concerts at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in two weeks (October 21, 22), and the interviewer asks if she's ready and who she expects to see in the audience. Next to her is singer and actress Patty Brard, who loves to be Emma’s stage accompanist. Patty says she will absolutely be there, front row. When asked if André Rieu will also be there, Emma replied affirmatively, and perhaps orchestra members and other celebrities as well. (No celebrities, but Ruud and Ineke also have tickets!). When asked about Emma's plans for the future, she replies: "First of all I'm going to finish the tour with André Rieu, and then we'll see what comes my way." We see that he interview takes place at a unique location, namely the set of the longest-running musical in the Netherlands: "Soldier of Orange." This book/ film/ musical tells the true story of Leiden student Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, who joined the resistance in 1940 (the beginning of World War II), serving Queen Wilhelmina, who fled to England. The musical premiered in 2010, won numerous awards, attracted over 3.7 million visitors, and is still running in a specially built theater hangar, based on an existing aircraft hangar at the former Valkenburg military airfield (near Leiden). Emma and Patty's hairstyles and clothing are in keeping with the 1940s, and Patty is wearing Queen Wilhelmina's signature fox fur coat. So, the question is: what are they doing there? Is there another surprise in store after the two solo concerts (with guests) in Amsterdam? We found the answer to our question later: on Saturday, October 11th, Dutch television will be highlighting the 15th anniversary of this musical. Participants of the former program "Stars on Stage" will perform the most beautiful songs from the musical. That's why Emma and Patty are participating.

October 15, 2025 L1 News, by Niena Bocken Photos by Luc Lodder, Prometheus, family Kok. Translation: Diana D. Le Emma Kok reveals her story: 17 years of struggle and success in one book: “Never Lose Hope”. Under the vaulted arches of the Dominican Church in Maastricht, not only do the sounds of the song "Voilà" echo, but also the very first words of Emma Kok's book. Seventeen years summarized in 272 pages describing her successes, but also her struggles. The aim of the book: to be seen for who she really is. Although it was not necessarily her own idea, she immediately saw it for herself when it was suggested: a book about her life. Diary “Back when I first got a computer, I pretended I was writing a book. So when I actually started doing it, I thought: oh my god, this is really cool!” She had always written: not only songs, but also in her diary, parts of which are included in the book. In the chapter about The Voice Kids, ten pages had to be deleted due to length, but otherwise Kok can't immediately think of anything that didn't make it into the book. Pride Father Vico and mother Nathalie are proud, but say they are no prouder than they are of their other children, Enzo and Sophie, who are also pursuing careers in classical music. They did not guide their youngest daughter in the writing process, but they did contribute to the first part, covering her life from birth. “We suggested things, but Emma ultimately rewrote everything in her own way,” says her mother. Rereading the passages was beautiful for them, but often also difficult. “It has been intense, and still is, when you reread it all,” says mother Nathalie. The first copy will be presented to Koks' best friend Jade Kops (18), who is terminally ill herself and has previously written a book about it. She too is incredibly proud, she says. The two found each other in their similar fate of being chronically ill, and now also in writing. “I can't write the book for her, but it's nice to be able to help her when she asks how I would have done it.” One hundred million views Being seen for who you really are is also quite difficult with so much media attention. Because quite a lot has happened in the life of the teenager who became world famous within five years after her performance of the song "Voilà" together with André Rieu on the Vrijthof. The violinist himself is also present on Tuesday October 14th 2025, and a moment is made of it: that YouTube video has now surpassed 100 million views. The young singer therefore presents Rieu with 100 red roses, who on Tuesday evening wants to put the spotlight on Kok and therefore quickly disappears from the stage. Love Something Kok never spoke about before, but did sing about, is love. She has made room for this in the book. Love has not always been easy and self-evident because of concerns and uncertainty surrounding her gastroparesis and everything that comes with it. That is what her song Scared of love is about. Things have changed in that regard: “Right now, I have a very sweet boyfriend by my side, so that's really nice.” Hope and dreams In addition to words from the book, three songs are also sounded by the stately bookstore, which are listened to in deafening silence by the approximately a hundred listeners. And in the end, the core of the story seems to be there. This is about hope and the determination to shape your dreams, even under terrible circumstances. This is also evident from the introduction of the book that is written by Kok herself: "Dreams can really come true. If you believe in it very strongly, do everything and work hard for it. I wanted to write a book, and you have that book in your hands now. There's one dream I don't know if ever comes true: to get better. But that doesn’t mean I give up.” EMMA‘s book “Never lose hope” appears through publishing house Prometheus and is currently only available in Dutch.

De Limburger, by Wouter Nelissen September 19, 2025 Photo: L1, Timo Schmid, and screenshot from Instagram. Emma Kok is giving not one but two concerts at the Concertgebouw: 'A dream come true' Emma Kok (17) will be giving an extra concert at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. The Kerkrade singer announced this on her social media on Friday. Kok will now give two concerts at the Concertgebouw: Tuesday, October 21, and Wednesday, October 22. It sold out within three hours, and unfortunately, many of you couldn't get tickets. Kok made her definitive breakthrough as a performer in 2023 at the age of 15 when she sang Voilà at Rieu's Vrijthof concerts. Before that, she had already won The Voice Kids and the TV talent show Ministars. This year, she came second in the musical talent show Stars on Stage, which was won by singer Numidia from Venlo. The Kerkrade native has over 2 million followers on Instagram, making her the most successful Limburg artist on the social media platform after André Rieu. Sold Out Emma's first performance at the Concertgebouw sold out in no time. An additional concert seemed out of the question due to the packed schedule of the Amsterdam music venue, but now it's finally happened. Tickets for Emma's second concert at the Concertgebouw have already gone on sale and sold out within a few hours.

October 17, 2025: De Telegraaf, by Bernice Breure Photos: Raoul Limpens Emma Kok (17) was insecure about love: "Who wants me now? A girl with tubes attached to her body and scars on her stomach." Milestone after milestone for Emma Kok (17) this year: the singer reached the finals of Stars on Stage, got her first boyfriend, toured the world with André Rieu for the second consecutive year, sold out her performances at the Concertgebouw in just a few hours, and wore a bikini for the first time this summer. She explains why the latter is also a victory in her book “Emma”. Writing a biography at seventeen sounds absurd, Emma Kok agrees in the kitchen of her parents' house in Kerkrade. "It's not that at all; it's more of a diary in which the less confident Emma emerges behind the singer. It's a dream: as a little girl, I used to pretend to type with my fingers that I was writing a book." The book sketches the life of a twelve-year-old girl who, bored during Covid 19 virus lockdown, submitted an audition video for The Voice Kids, even though she had only had a month of singing lessons. She won the tenth season, sang her version of Barbara Pravi's Voilà during Ministars, and caught the attention of André Rieu, who invited her to his Vrijthof concerts and world tour. She has shared the stage with him over 180 times, from Chile to Bahrain. Now she's about to give two of her own performances in a packed Concertgebouw on October 21 and 22. Emma gives ample space to her medical issues, which she calls struggles. She has gastroparesis (stomach paralysis), which means she can't tolerate solid food and relies on two pumps that deliver tube feedings through her stomach and small intestine. "I talk about it easily; what helps is that I went to therapy for it." History of Bullying She also mentions her history of bullying. In elementary school, classmates called her "granny" because she pushed a child's walker and "gnome" because of her stunted growth. "It damaged me, and I still see the scars. The bullies themselves won't realize that." Her success feels like sweet revenge, Emma admits with a laugh. Who has two million followers on Instagram or a YouTube video that has been viewed 100 million times? "I hope the bullies from back then come to my concert. That I say, 'Sorry, who are you? You're not coming in.'" Music was her salvation, she agrees. Her parents met at the orchestra, and her older sister also took singing lessons. "If I hadn't found my voice, I'd probably be depressed in a corner somewhere. Singing gives me energy and a sense of freedom, especially on days when I'm struggling mentally because of my illness." In the evenings, she says a quick prayer: let me be free. Without pumping. And being able to eat. "I want to stop at the McDonald's for a hamburger and a milkshake. Or taste the chocolate cake my grandma makes every birthday instead of just blowing out the candles." A Rieu Gift André Rieu always mentions Emma's condition before inviting her on stage. "I really appreciate that. The rarer a disease, the less attention it receives. This includes doctors and researchers. The fact that he's telling the whole world about it is a wonderful gift to me." Wouldn't she rather be known only for her beautiful voice than for her unique condition as well? "It's part of me. I can't make it disappear; otherwise, I would have done so long ago." She frequently shares about gastroparesis on social media to support others with the same condition. "I hope they don't feel alone, like I used to." After Emma Kok showed off her scarred belly in the spring to showcase her "Never Lose Hope" tattoo, she posted a photo of herself in her very first bikini this summer. "I had already ordered swimsuits, but I was ready for this step. A boy with a prosthetic leg responded to that post and said he'd never worn swim trunks before, but was considering it now." A nicer reaction than followers who think they can cure her. "Some send a herbal mixture or even drop it off at the door. As if a powder like that is going to make me better. However kindly intended, that all goes straight in the trash." Emma also often feels misunderstood by doctors. "You have an eating disorder, you need antidepressants or hypnotherapy, I've been told. Even admission to a psychiatric ward." She was insecure about love, she confesses in “Emma”. "Who wants me now? A girl with a feeding tube 22 hours a day, with two pumps in her bag and tubes attached to her body, day and night, and with many scars on her stomach." Shopping with a boyfriend Moreover, a date with her looks different. "Watching someone else eat in a restaurant doesn't make me happy. I can't have drinks or a picnic." Yet, she now has a boyfriend. "On our first date, we went shopping in Maastricht, and that makes me happy." Worries about future stages of life remain. "What if I get married? The wedding cake? How am I going to handle that?" She has, however, collected a folder of dresses on Pinterest, as well as TikTok videos of nurseries. A little sheepishly: "Just like every teenager. In the end, I'm just a seventeen-year-old girl." What can the audience expect at the Concertgebouw? "Everything! From pop to musicals to Voilà. There will be guest appearances by my idols, Milan van Waardenburg and April Darby. In between, I'll tell my story." She usually disconnects her pumps for performances. "But this is two 45-minute sessions. If I feel like I can't make it during the break, I'll go on stage with the pumps. I'll do anything to do the whole show." Whether her biggest wish—waking up healthy one day—will ever come true, she doesn't know. Meanwhile, Emma has plenty of other dreams: participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, a permanent role in a musical, and touring with her own band. What does she want to share with her readers? "Make your dreams your goals and go after them. Dreams really can come true."