Brassband Willebroek

Frans Violet founded Brassband Willebroek in 1979. Initially, the band worked within the framework and structure of the Municipal Music Academy of Willebroek. Since 1985, BBW has existed independently as a non-profit organisation.

The band have recorded 6 studio albums. 'Elgar Variations' (2007) was awarded the BBC Radio 2 'Brass Band Album of the Year'.

A Cultural Ambassador of their city, Brassband Willebroek have played many concerts and have entered contests all over Europe. They won the European Brass Band Championships for the first time in 1993. They were the first continental band ever to do so, led by a continental conductor. They regained the European title in 2006, 2007, and 2025 and are record holders with a win of 24 Belgian national titles in total.

In 2017 and 2022, BBW wrote history again at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade: they were the first Belgian band ever to call themselves world champions, and they are the first band to win this title twice in a row.

Brassband Willebroek have been awarded the coveted Eltima for Amateur Arts 2022, given each year by the Flemish Government.