Marco Roberto Borsato (born December 21, 1966, in Alkmaar, Netherlands) is a Dutch pop singer whose career has been defined by a long series of commercial successes in the Netherlands and Belgium. Of Italian descent, he initially performed in Italian before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in Dutch-language popular music.
Borsato first attracted national attention in 1990 when he won the Dutch television talent program Soundmixshow with a performance of Billy Vera's "At This Moment." The victory led to a recording contract and a run of Italian-language albums, including *Emozioni* (1990), *Sento* (1991), and *Giorno per giorno* (1992). These releases established him as a professional singer, but did not yet point to the scale of his later success.
The decisive turning point came in 1994, when songwriter John Ewbank encouraged Borsato to record in Dutch. The resulting album, *Marco*, produced the singles "Dromen zijn bedrog" and "Waarom nou jij." The former became a landmark hit, spending twelve weeks at number one in the Netherlands and remaining one of the longest-running Dutch-language chart toppers. Borsato's move into Dutch repertoire also gave his career a more distinct identity, combining polished pop production with emotionally direct songs about relationships, family and personal uncertainty.
His next albums transformed him into a national star. *Als geen ander* (1995) became his first Dutch number-one album, followed by *De waarheid* (1997) and *De bestemming* (1998). During this period, Borsato developed a close creative partnership with Ewbank, who wrote or co-wrote many of his best-known songs. The albums *Luid en duidelijk* (2000), *Onderweg* (2002), and *Zien* (2004) confirmed his position as one of the Netherlands' leading mainstream performers. He was also known for large-scale concerts, including shows at Rotterdam's De Kuip and the *Symphonica in Rosso* concert series, where his songs were presented with orchestral arrangements.
In the late 2000s and 2010s, Borsato continued to release successful albums such as *Wit licht* (2008), *Dromen durven delen* (2010), *Duizend spiegels* (2013), *Evenwicht* (2015), and *Thuis* (2017). Collaborations with artists including Ali B, Trijntje Oosterhuis and Do introduced new voices into his established pop style. His chart record includes fifteen number-one singles in the Netherlands and eleven number-one albums, while his awards include multiple Edison Awards, TMF Awards and other major Dutch music honors. In 2004, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Beyond music, Borsato served as an ambassador for War Child, a Dutch organization supporting children affected by armed conflict. He also became familiar to television audiences as a coach and mentor on programs including *The Voice of Holland*, *The Voice Kids* and *The Voice Senior*.
Borsato's public standing changed sharply after allegations of sexual misconduct became public in 2021. His music was subsequently removed from many Dutch radio playlists, and he largely withdrew from professional activity. In December 2025, a Dutch court acquitted him in a case involving alleged sexual abuse of a minor, ruling that the accusation could not be proven with sufficient supporting evidence. The Public Prosecution Service did not appeal. His musical legacy remains substantial, although his future as a performer has remained uncertain.