Teije van Vliet, the Dutch drum 'n' bass musician known professionally as Lenzman, died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the age of 47 following a three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. His wife and two daughters confirmed the tragic news in a statement on Instagram.
Alongside a black and white image of the star posing in profile, they wrote: "Nothing can prepare you for a loss this great. Yesterday afternoon, July 11th, we had to say goodbye to my beautiful husband Teije and beloved father of our two girls. For 3.5 years he fought with so much strength, courage, and love. He showed us what true strength means, and I will forever be proud to have walked this life beside him."
The statement continued: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported us, loved Teije, sent messages, visited, helped, and stood beside us during this difficult time. Your kindness and love have meant more than words can ever express. We are forever grateful to be surrounded by so many beautiful people."
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Lenzman went public about his illness last year, revealing that he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in January 2023. He underwent surgery to have a kidney removed at the time, but doctors told him the cancer had already spread and was incurable. Later that year, he was rushed to hospital and had emergency brain surgery after falling unconscious at home. Doctors predicted he "likely wouldn’t survive," but he "miraculously" pulled through.
In 2024, he underwent reconstructive surgery that allowed him to continue performing. In 2025, he said writing music "helped him stay positive" as he underwent treatment. He continued to gig until summer 2025, when he was hospitalised again following an epileptic seizure triggered by the cancer.
Final Months and Tributes
In May 2026, he stopped cancer treatment, and a fundraiser party at London's Phonox was set up to support him and his family, featuring DJ Flight, LSB, and others. Tributes flooded in following the news. One person commented on the family's Instagram post: "So sorry to hear this news. Teije was such a wonderful artist and a wonderful person. A massive inspiration to us, in the early days we used to give him demo CDs outside gigs and tell him how much his music was leading a path we wanted to follow. We will sincerely miss him."
Another added: "What a truly sad day, he was a massive influence to us. I remember doing one of my first shows in Europe which at the time was super daunting for me, Lenzman came up to me and introduced himself, we had a few drinks and he eased my mind, that’s something that’ll remain with me forever. RIP Legend." A third wrote: "Rest in peace Teije. A hero to so many, in and out of music. What a legacy to leave behind, always going to be missed. All love out to you and the family."
Musical Legacy
Lenzman founded The North Quarter record label in 2016 and released his debut album Looking At The Stars in 2014. He was a revered figure in the drum 'n' bass scene, known for his soulful and melodic productions. His death marks a significant loss to the electronic music community.
