Terence de Haseth

From Rock Riffs to Flamenco Rhythms

Xp Bonaire IslandLife Feature Story

Musical Beginnings

Terence de Haseth was born in Zwolle, the Netherlands, in 1977, and grew up in Apeldoorn. His parents later moved to Bonaire in 1998, but Terence stayed in the Netherlands until 2008, when he decided to make the move too. Since then, he's been living on Bonaire, where music, family, and food all play a big role in his life.

Terence started playing guitar at 16 and picked up the drums a year later. He didn’t take lessons—instead, he taught himself by listening to music for hours, figuring things out by ear. Inspired by the music his parents listened to—bands like The Police, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and Guns N’ Roses—he would spend a lot of time learning solos from Pink Floyd and others, note by note.

Early Bands and Musical Style

In his earlier years, Terence played with bands in the Netherlands and Germany. Their styles were all over the place: funk, rock, pop, soul, metal, and fusion. He was mostly on electric guitar but also behind the drums, depending on the band. These early experiences gave him a solid foundation and a good sense of timing and collaboration, even though he never learned music theory formally.

Moving to Bonaire and Discovering Flamenco

When he moved to Bonaire in 2008, Terence started a new chapter. Alongside helping out with the family restaurant, Bobbejan BBQ, he started exploring flamenco guitar more seriously—something he’d always admired for its rhythm and intensity. Over the years, he took lessons and masterclasses from respected flamenco guitarists like Mariano Martin, Antonio Rey, Amir John Haddad, and Jerónimo Maya. He even traveled to Spain and the U.S. for some of those masterclasses when he had the chance.

Flamenco wasn’t an easy switch. The style is full of technical detail and very rhythm-heavy. But for Terence, that challenge was part of what made it fun. “It’s really demanding, and that’s exactly why I love it,” he says.

Growing as a Drummer and Collaborator

He also kept growing as a drummer and learned by way of masterclasses from well-known musicians like Mike Portnoy, André Hoekstra, Eveline Carels, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, and percussionists like José Córdoba “Moskito” and Israel Suárez “Piraña.”

Not long after arriving on Bonaire, Terence connected with local musicians and started performing again. He teamed up with classical guitarist and violinist Elger Verschuur to form the Bonaire Guitar Duo. They played regularly around Bonaire, and sometimes in Curaçao and Aruba, mixing flamenco, classical, and other acoustic styles. They often worked with other local artists too, making each show a little different.

Musical Projects on Bonaire and Beyond

Besides that, Terence has been involved in all kinds of music projects—playing guitar or drums with (local) musicians like Gaby Mercera, Jasper Blokzijl, Max and Frank Blok, Mimoun Himmit, Rafael Añez Cicirucá, Michelle Schuijling, Vanessa Peralta, John Stam, and JB/Jazz Meijers to name a few. He still plays live, either in planned gigs or jumping in spontaneously. “The music community on the island is close,” he says. “You never know when you’ll get a call to join something last-minute.”

He also started the rock band Overdrive, where he mostly plays electric guitar but still drums now and then. Rock and metal are still big influences for him, and he likes the energy of live music shows, especially when people are dancing and having a good time.

A Focus on Flamenco and Sharing Music

These days, Terence focuses a lot on flamenco and acoustic guitar, but he enjoys variety. He plays solo concerts, small gigs, and sometimes just jumps in with other musicians. He’s not really looking to be on stage every week—it’s more about quality than quantity. He occasionally writes his own music and he also records and shares guitar videos on his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@terenceguitar), where he mainly breaks down flamenco pieces in detail for others learning the style. He also just recently launched a drums YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@quarttimedrummer) where he will focus more on playing/breaking down unconventional drum parts. 

Family Business and Life on Bonaire

When he’s not making music, Terence helps run Bobbejan BBQ, the family’s weekend takeout restaurant. It started as something new and different for him, but over time he’s enjoyed working in a family setting and improving how things run mainly behind the scenes. The restaurant is known locally for its ribs, chicken, satay, steak, fish, and pork chops—and for its friendly vibe. “It’s very different from music, but it’s also creative in its own way,” he says.

Looking Ahead

After more than 15 years on the island, Terence has built a life where music and community go hand in hand. With his wife and two kids and a busy mix of family, music, and work, he continues to play, learn, and explore. Whether it’s flamenco, jazz fusion, rock, or something in between, Terence plays with heart—and keeps it grounded in rhythm, connection, and love for the music.