Dutch Pipes and Drums

The Dutch Pipes and Drums from Tilburg have been set up in 1953 as a juvenile pipe band called 'De Scotjes', as a tribute to their Scottish liberators of the 15th Division in October, 1944.
The band became already famous in their early years and everyone in the Netherlands knew it from radio and television; amongst other things, they took part in the first experimental pre-recordings for colour television, acting in the first colour TV-show of the Netherlands in 1957, the Mounties show and the Rudi Carell-show.

In the following years (seventies) several old-members returned to the band. The age limit which had been determined at the establishment in 1953 on 14 years (raised in 1968 to 18 years) was abolished.

Because the small 'Scotjes' had become large 'Scotsman', the band decided to change the original name 'De Scotjes' in 'Dutch Pipes & Drums'.

The major breakthrough happened in 2005 when the band got the opportunity to play on the Netherlands Military Tattoo. In the years to follow, the Dutch Pipes and Drums played at major events in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Malta, Norway and Spain.

The band is member of the Dutch Organisation of Bagpipe Bands and also of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
The band is extremely proud on its official status of pipe band of the worldwide Clan Donald-organisation. The appointment as official band of the clan branch occurred by the 24th Chief of Clan Ranald, Sir Ranald Alexander MacDonald of Clanranald, a.k.a. the Captain of Clan Ranald, who is also patron of the Dutch Pipes and Drums.