Willem Vermandere (born 9 February 1940 in Lauwe, Belgium) is a Belgian singer, Flemish cabaret artist, writer, sculptor, guitarist and painter. His songs are written and sung in the dialect of the South of West-Flanders in Belgium. His most famous songs are ‘Klein ventje van Elverdinge’, ‘Lat mie maar lopen’, ‘Als ik zing’, ‘Blanche en zijn peird’, ‘Bange blankeman’, ‘Duizend soldaten’, ‘La Belle Rosselle’ and ‘Ik plantte ne keer patatten’.
Biography
Vermandere studied Religion at Ghent and has been a teacher at Nieuwpoort. Although he is most known for his music, Vermandere is more active as a sculptor. His repertoire expresses criticism on society. His performances are a mixture of seriousness, sadness and fun. His songs can be considered poetry.
He performs as a band with Freddy Desmedt and Pol Depoorter. In 1993 Vermandere wrote the song "Bange Blanke Man" ("Frightened White Man"), a song criticizing racism and xenophobia in a multicultural society. When performing at the Grand-Place in Brussels in 1992 Vermandere was physically assaulted by members of the far-right party Vlaams Blok. He also received letters of threat.
In 2000 he was bestowed with the title of honorary citizen of Veurne, where he currently lives in the suburb of Steenkerke. In 2009 the Flemish ‘Radio 2’ station nominated him as a member of the galley of honor for a life filled with music.[1]
Discography
Liedjes Van De Westhoek, 1968
Langs De Schreve, 1969
Willem Vermandere (album),1971
Vier (album), 1973
Met Mijn Simpel Lied, 1976
Lat Mie Maar Lopen, 1981
Als ik zing', 1984
Willem Vermandere, 1988
Ik wil maar zeggen, 1988
De eerste jaren, 1989
Lat mie maar lopen, 1991
Een avond in Brussel, 1990
Help mij, 1993
Mijn Vlaanderland, 1995
De vergeten liedjes, 1996
In de donkerste dagen, 1997
Onderweg, 1999
Gezongen uit de ark, 2000
De eerste jaren II, 2000
Van Blanche tot Blankeman, 2000
Omzwervingen - Liedjes zonder woorden, 2002
Op den duur, 2003
Master serie - Willem Vermandere, Het beste van, 2005
Van soorten, 2005
Altijd iemands vader, altijd iemands kind, 2006
Alles gaat over, 2010
De zanger & de muzikant Vincent Troch', 2012
Den overkant & de meditaties, 2014
14-18 En wat nu?, 2015
Confessies, 2020
Books
Thuis en nog veel verder, 2000, Gent, Blobe, 224 pp.
Van Blanche tot Blankeman, 2007, Lannoo: 122 liedjesteksten
The sculpture Verzoening, in English Reconciliation, was created by Willem Vermandere to commemorate World War I. It was erected October 8, 2014 at the geographical starting point of the Western Front.
