Dick Abraham Willebrandts (Rotterdam, 29 July 1911 – 29 December 1970) was a Dutch pianist, composer and bandleader in the swing era.

When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940, the AVRO Dance Orchestra was forced to disband.

In 1942 he found a sponsor who helped him to form a big band: Dick Willebrandts and His Dance Orchestra.

As the war continued the big bands had to commit to a special repertoire in order to be allowed to perform before an audience.

Each big band had to be a member of the Nederlandsche Kultuurkamer, the Dutch equivalent of the German Reich Chamber of Culture, a government agency in Nazi Germany that was extended to the occupied territories.

Trombonist, composer and arranger Pi Scheffer played the trombone in Willebrandts’ big band.

During World War II Nelly Verschuur was very successful, especially with two songs both written by Jaap Valkhoff: “Diep in mijn hart” (“Deep in My Heart”) (1943) and “Denk je nog aan die tijd' (“Do You Remember Those Days”) (1943).

Dick Willebrandts’ big band often performed for the by the Nazis controlled Dutch radio.

[5] Nazi Germany was defeated between 4 and 8 May 1945 during which the remaining German armed forces surrendered unconditionally.

[6] In 1960 the trombonist and band leader Pi Scheffer asked Willebrandts to join the radio orchestra, the “OK Wobblers”.