; current members sharon den adel -- lead vocals ( 1996 -- present ) robert westerholt -- rhythm guitar , grunts ( 1996 -- present , studio only since 2011 ) jeroen van veen -- bass ( 1996 -- present ) ruud jolie -- lead guitar , rhythm guitar ( 2001 -- present ) martijn spierenburg -- keyboards ( 2001 -- present ) mike coolen -- drums ( 2011 -- present ) stefan helleblad -- rhythm guitar , lead guitar ( 2011 -- present ) within temptation longest line-up , from left to right : van haestregt , van veen , jolie , den adel , spierenburg , westerholt .