Wannes Van de Velde (29 April 1937 – 10 November 2008), born Willy Cecile Johannes Van de Velde, in

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

, was a Flemish

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be c ...

, guitarist, musician, poet, puppeteer and artist. He is most famous for his songs ''Ik Wil deze Nacht in de Straten Verdwalen'' (1973), ''Mijn Mansarde'' and ''

De Brug van Willebroek De Brug van Willebroek (''The Bridge of Willebroek'') is a 1990 song by Wannes Van de Velde about the bridge near the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal in the Flemish village Willebroek. The song has also been covered by the Antwerp band Katastroof ...

'' (1990). His work is often categorized as

kleinkunst Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or ...

. Van de Velde was known for singing in his local dialect.

Biography

His father, Jaak Van de Velde, was a metal worker and talented singer, his mother a housewife and singer. He grew up in the Zirkstraat, near the Antwerp Red Light district. At home the young boy was always surrounded by music. His song "Ik Wil Deze Nacht in De Straten Verdwalen" was written for the film ''

Home Sweet Home Home Sweet Home may refer to: Film * Home, Sweet Home (1914 film), ''Home, Sweet Home'' (1914 film), a film about the life of John Howard Payne * Home Sweet Home (1917 film), ''Home Sweet Home'' (1917 film), a British silent film * Home Sweet ...

'' by

Benoît Lamy Benoît Lamy (; 19 September 1945 – 15 April 2008) was a Belgian film director, best known for his picture ''Home Sweet Home'' (1973). Biography Lamy was born in Arlon in the Belgian Province of Luxembourg and died in Braine-l'Alleud, Wal ...

. In 1997 he received the

Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord The Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord (Ark Prize of the Free Word) is a symbolic award created in 1951 by Herman Teirlinck and the editorial team of the ''Nieuw Vlaams Tijdschrift'' (New Flemish magazine) to counteract ideologically driven restrictions ...

. Van de Velde died at Antwerp on 10 November 2008, aged 71.

Awards

* 1997 -

for his music.

References

1937 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Belgian male singers Belgian folk singers Belgian male guitarists Belgian male poets Belgian puppeteers Belgian sculptors Dutch-language singers of Belgium Flemish musicians Musicians from Antwerp Ark Prize of the Free Word winners 20th-century guitarists {{Belgium-singer-stub