Die Verdammte Spielerei
The craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere — Ghent’s street-theatre saxophone wonder-orchestra since 2006: four saxes, a drum and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter, from the Gentse Feesten to Scheire en de Schepping.
A chronological documentary of 56 moments spanning 2012–2026 on Loreline.
last updated 2026-07-21
Eras
- Origins & the Walking Orchestra — Born in Ghent in July 2006 — six men who ‘liepen in Gent rond’ and became the craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere: four saxophones, percussion and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- Festivals & Street Theatre — The wandering wonder-orchestra on the road — Gentse Feesten, Dranouter, Spectaculo Geleen, Tunnelfest and street stages across Belgium and beyond.
- Collaborations — Die Verdammte Spielerei ‘und Kameraden’ — songs made with Lieven Tavernier, Sioen, Bart Maris, Kurt Burgelman, Wim Segers, Senne Guns and more of the Flemish scene.
- Classical Crossover — Pakske Klassiek and beyond — Handel, Purcell, Pergolesi and Bert Kaempfert reimagined for four saxes and a drum, often with guest singers.
- The Stage Shows — Their theatrical productions — Een dag met Stefaan (2015), Nachtvorst (2017), Seniorie De Spielerei (2022) and the 20-year show Sax, Drugs & Marsmuziek (2024).
- TV & Screen — The Spielerei on screen — house orchestra of Scheire en de Schepping, Studio Brussel live sessions, De Zevende Dag and Dimitri Verhulst’s film.
- — Op Dranouter Festival. The Spielerei at Festival Dranouter — folk-festival crowds meet the marching saxophones.
- — Die Verdammte Spielerei (2013). Early street footage of the six-man walking orchestra doing what it does best — music on the move.
- — Weekend van het Volkscafé. A performance at the Weekend van het Volkscafé — Belgian café culture and marching saxes.
- — Gentse Feesten 2013. On home turf at the Gentse Feesten, the Ghent city festival where the band was born in 2006.
- — Het zotste wandelorkest van het Westelijk Halfrond. The official portrait: four saxes, a snare and a drummer rising from a manhole — the ‘craziest walking orchestra of the Western Hemisphere’, in their trademark white vests and army caps.
- — Een dag met Stefaan. The full orchestra on stage in their 2015 production ‘Een dag met Stefaan’.
- — Paint It Black — Studio Brussel (live). The Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’, live at Studio Brussel.
- — 9 to 5 — Studio Brussel (live). A live cover of Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ for Studio Brussel.
- — Caught By The Tide — Billie ft. Die Verdammte Spielerei. A Studio Brussel session with singer Billie.
- — Uprising — Studio Brussel (live). Muse’s ‘Uprising’ recast for saxophones, live at Studio Brussel.
- — Een dag met Stefaan (2015). From the 2015 stage production ‘Een dag met Stefaan’.
- — Die Verdammte Spielerei — the six. A studio portrait of the six-man ensemble: four saxophonists, percussion and Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- — Gentse Feesten 2016 — Dag 10. A full set from day ten of the 2016 Gentse Feesten.
- — Pakske Klassiek (live). A live ‘Pakske Klassiek’ performance.
- — Nachtvorst. Frost-covered faces from the 2017 theatre show ‘Nachtvorst’, exploring the charm — and cold — of the night.
- — Die Verdammte Spielerei (2017). A brief street-performance snapshot.
- — Die Verdammte Spielerei 2015. The wandering wonder-orchestra in full flow, filmed by Close Line Projects.
- — Tunnelfest 2017. The band bringing its brass and mischief to Tunnelfest.
- — Teaser — Capitole Gent. A teaser for the band’s show at the Capitole in Ghent.
- — On the street (2018). A short street clip of the marching saxophone orchestra.
- — Pakske Klassiek. Die Verdammte Spielerei und Kameraden performing the classical ‘Pakske Klassiek’ programme.
- — Gentse Feesten 2018. The wonder-orchestra back at the Gentse Feesten in 2018.
- — Prettig gestoord wonderorkest. A studio portrait of the ‘pleasantly deranged wonder-orchestra’ from Ghent.
- — Laat Me Nu Toch Niet Alleen (live). A live performance of the Nachtvorst song.
- — Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert. The gold-jacket showmanship of ‘Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert’ (2019), the ensemble’s tribute to bandleader Bert Kaempfert.
- — Met Harmonie Euterpe Venray. A full concert with the Koninklijke Harmonie Euterpe, Venray.
- — Music for a While — Purcell (met Hanne Roos). Henry Purcell reimagined with soprano Hanne Roos.
- — Laat Me Nu Toch Niet Alleen (uit: Nachtvorst). From the 2017 theatre show ‘Nachtvorst’, exploring the charm of the night.
- — Dansen en Schuren (uit: Nachtvorst). A dancefloor number from the 2017 show ‘Nachtvorst’.
- — Zomer (met Senne Guns). A summer song made with Senne Guns.
- — Stabat Mater — Pergolesi (met Astrid Stockman & Lieven Scheire). Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with soprano Astrid Stockman and Lieven Scheire.
- — Piangerò la sorte mia — Handel (met Hanne Roos). Handel’s aria with soprano Hanne Roos.
- — Kaept Kaempfert — Live @ De Zevende Dag. The ‘Spielerei Kaept Kaempfert’ programme, exploring the catalogue of bandleader Bert Kaempfert.
- — L.O.V.E. — Live @ De Zevende Dag. A live TV performance on ‘De Zevende Dag’.
- — Een dag met Stefaan. ‘A day with Stefaan’ — a portrait of the ensemble and its frontman Herr Kapellmeister Stefaan De Winter.
- — Pakske Klassiek (trailer). The trailer for ‘Pakske Klassiek’ — Die Verdammte Spielerei und Kameraden bringing the classics to four saxes and a drum.
- — Eerste sneeuw (met Lieven Tavernier). ‘First snow’ — a wintry Lieven Tavernier collaboration.
- — Klokken van Sint-Baafs (met Lieven Tavernier). A Lieven Tavernier collaboration named for the bells of Ghent’s Saint Bavo.
- — Warme Dagen. A Spielerei original — the wonder-orchestra’s own summer song, four saxes and percussion in full swing.
- — Bolero Di Quimet (met Rony Verbiest). A collaboration with accordionist Rony Verbiest.
- — Chinese Whistler (met Wim Segers). A Bobbejaan Schoepen classic reworked with vibraphonist Wim Segers.
- — Fanfare van Honger en Dorst (met Lieven Tavernier). With Ghent songwriter Lieven Tavernier — whose line ‘ze waren met zessen, ze liepen in Gent rond’ gave the band its founding myth.
- — Verdammte Vos — ode aan Luc De Vos (met Bart Maris). With Bart Maris, an ode to the late dEUS-era Gent icon Luc De Vos of Gorki.
- — Loetsebollekezoetse (met Kurt Burgelman). A collaboration with Ghent’s irreverent Kurt Burgelman.
- — Burden of Love (met Sioen). A collaboration with Belgian singer-songwriter Sioen.
- — Vanmoeten (met Bart Maris). With trumpeter Bart Maris (Flat Earth Society, X-Legged Sally).
- — Seniorie De Spielerei. The 2022 production ‘Seniorie De Spielerei’ — the wonder-orchestra imagined grown old, soup on the table and feet in a bucket.
- — My Bonnie Is Over the Ocean. A street rendition — the Spielerei turning an old standard into a walking singalong.
- — Theaterconcert ‘Helden’ (2023). A 2023 theatre concert, ‘Helden’.
- — Spectaculo Geleen. The Spielerei at Spectaculo Geleen, working the crowd.
- — De Fanfare van Scheire (met Lieven Scheire). With Lieven Scheire — the band was house orchestra of the TV series ‘Scheire en de Schepping’.
- — Spectaculo Geleen 2025. The Spielerei at the Spectaculo street-theatre festival in Geleen, the Netherlands.
- — Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (clip). Street-theatre moment from Spectaculo Geleen 2025.
- — Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (clip II). Another Spectaculo Geleen 2025 street moment.
- — Spectaculo Geleen 2025 (full). A longer set from Spectaculo Geleen 2025.
- — Die Verdammte Spielerei. A short glimpse of the ensemble in action.
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