Hitlijst

Hitlijst is a Dutch term that refers to a ranked list of music tracks compiled to reflect their popularity within a specific period, typically weekly. A hitlijst aggregates data on how well songs are performing, and the ranking is based on a combination of metrics such as sales, streaming, and radio airplay. Different hitlijsten may use different weighting for these sources, depending on the organization compiling the chart.

In practice, hitlijsten are published by media outlets such as radio stations, newspapers, and music websites, and are often updated every week. They can be national or regional and may include subcharts for specific genres or formats. The ranking provides a snapshot of what is currently popular and serves as a reference for broadcasters, artists, and the music industry. In addition to listing the top tracks, many hitlijsten also show positions for a larger number of songs and track how charts change from week to week.

Notable Dutch-speaking charts include several well-known hitlijsten in the Netherlands and Flanders. In the Netherlands, long-running weekly charts are widely observed, while in Belgium the Ultratop 50 (and its regional variants) serves as a leading indicator of popularity. Across regions, hitlijsten have influenced radio play, artist promotion, and award considerations, and they continue to adapt to changes in how people listen to music, particularly the rise of streaming. The term hitlijst remains the standard Dutch label for these popularity rankings.