When Willem Vermandere announced in 2024 that he would no longer perform, the idea spontaneously emerged at Festival Dranouter to bring his songs together one more time. Vermandere door de Anderen was born.
It became a very special moment. The tent was packed, and those who could no longer get inside simply stayed outside to listen. The response was so overwhelming that several cultural venues and festivals subsequently asked whether the production could also be performed at their venue. At the time, however, a further tour was not possible: the musicians were unavailable for additional performances. The demand for the project remained. That is why Vermandere door de Anderen is getting a new start in 2026, with a new line-up. At Festival Dranouter 2026, the production was presented exclusively to programmers, marking the beginning of a new tour.
The line-up features Augustijn Vermandere, Wouter Berlaen, Klaas Delrue, Eva De Roovere, Pol Depoorter, Laura Cortese and Tom Callens. Together, they explore Willem Vermandere’s rich repertoire, giving both well-known classics and lesser-known songs a fresh musical interpretation. From Bange Blankeman and Lat mie maar lopen to songs about love, loss, war and peace: Willem Vermandere’s music continues to tell stories. And his distinctive West Flemish language still sounds as powerful and unique as ever.
No imitation. No classic tribute. Just the songs of Willem Vermandere, performed by seven outstanding musicians.
