Started at the age of nine in a youth drum band, switched to the “big” band at the age of 14, where he got acquainted with all kinds of music styles, including British, French and American percussion styles.
By watching the Edinburgh Tattoo and, because of his work, many visits to Scotland, he was captivated by the Scottish percussion. The playing technique, the type of drum that is played with the typical high pitch and the sharp snare sound.
Finally, in the early nineties, he came across a Pipe Band from The Hague by chance, signed up as a member and the rest is history.
From the Hague band “The Hague Highland Pipe Band”, a friendly performance band with light competition aspirations, he joined the “City of Amsterdam Pipe Band”, at that time the top band on the mainland, with this band they even became Scottish Champion in their grade and were promoted to grade 2, a grade that no band on the European mainland had yet achieved. Unfortunately, the band went out of business. But luckily he still had my band from The Hague.
However, shortly after the collapse of the “City”, he was asked to come and play with a Pipe Band from Cologne, the drum corps of this band, in their grade, built up to one of the most successful in Germany.
Due to personal circumstances, Gert took a break from the bands, but fortunately picked it up again today, by continuing with the band from The Hague and joining Concord Pipe Band from Hengelo.
Musically and technically, this is currently the band to play with, nice and beautiful performances, successful in competitions on the mainland, but also in Scotland. This year, 2025, the band celebrates its 50th anniversary with a concert and a reunion for all members who ever played with the band.
Gert is currently active in four bands:
The Hague Highland Pipe Band, Concord Pipe Band, Venlo Caledonian Pipe Band and a completely different style of music, the “Traditional Hunting Horn Corps of the former Regiment Garde Jagers”. A tribute to the old conscript orchestra of the Garde Jagers. Completely under the auspices of Defence.
He also has a collection of Scottish Snare Drums from 1958 to drums that are still used today. It is madness, just like Pipe Band music, “you’ll hate it or love it”, there is no middle ground.
Now, after playing in a band for over 55 years, he hopes to be able to continue playing for a long time, as long as it is physically possible, you are of course not getting any younger.
The competition days are certainly very strenuous, almost top sport… But then again, isn’t drumming a top sport anyway?
