The “Dersa Highlanders Damme District Pipes and Drums e.V.” has existed - only as a loose group of people - since 1997. When several interested parties gradually emerged, a “registered association” was founded in 1998 with the name “Bagpipe and Drumband Damme/Dümmer e.V.”. Due to some required changes, the registration in the register of associations then took place in the year 2000.
In 2004, people thought about making the name a little more “Scottish”. The Dammer Mountains, which are a change of pace in the usual the local flatland, became a part of the namesake for the merry band of music enthusiast. The other part of the name has its origins in a castle called "Dersa Burg", that was once upon a time located on top of the Dammer Mountains.
Due to the initial “simple” merger, it was decided at our general meeting in 2006 that we would use the founding date of the “registered association” as a basis for upcoming anniversaries.
And that’s how the Scots came to Damme... :
Like so many things in Damme, the Dersa Highlanders have their origins in the Dammer Carnival. The club's founder, Helmut Beckmann, who unfortunately died far too early, maintained close business relationships with Scottish and English companies at the end of the 1990s, so he spent a long time living among the folks there. His visits to the british isle gave rise to a fascination for Scotland. This affinity led to him learning to play the bagpipes and purchasing a Great Highland Bagpipe, as well as the associated outfit (kilt, jacket, vest, etc.). To the members of the club it made sense to take part in the Dammer Carneval parade, the largest street carnival parade in northern Germany -Lower Saxony- (www.carneval-in-damme.de), with his bagpipes with his carnival group, which had the Scottish theme. That was, if you will, the birth of today's Dersa Highlanders. A few months later, at the birthday of one of the club members, four players joined together and became the founding members of the Dersa Highlanders.
Little by little more people showed interest in Scottish music, so it was decided to turn the loose association of people into a “real” club.
The band today has around 35 members (both active and passive). Due to the level of recognition that has now been achieved in our region, the members not only come from Damme, but mostly from surrounding areas. Some travel 30 km, in some cases members even drive 70 km to attend classes and performances.
We will perform at inaugurations, anniversaries, city festivals, church conventions, church concerts, Christmas markets, open days, charity events or similar occasions.
Do you have an occasion? You are welcome to contact us here.
