The huge refueling concert behind the scenes at Werchter

Like any festival of this magnitude, Rock Werchter presents a logistical challenge, particularly when it comes to feeding the thousands of crew members. A quick look backstage at the loaves of bread and the vegetable soup flowing freely.

© Rock Werchter.

While festival-goers enjoyed their favorite artists in Werchter from July 3 to 6, behind the stage, two conductors were orchestrating a completely different spectacle: a concert of refreshments. Het Laatste Nieuws highlighted the logistical challenges faced daily by Luc De Keyser (57) and André De Potter (62).

The first, head of the B&L Party Services caterer, prepares an astronomical quantity of fresh, vegetarian, and gluten-free soup with his team. His workday begins at noon and often lasts until 6 a.m. Over the course of the event, 13,000 liters are concocted, in batches of four 150-liter pots, then distributed in 30-liter containers to seven different sandwich stands spread across the plain.

© DPG Media

The second, affectionately nicknamed the "sandwich king," coordinates the daily routine of approximately 160 volunteers working at the stands. Here too, the quantities quickly add up: approximately 13,000 loaves of bread, half white, half wholemeal, 1 ton of Nutella, and several hundred kilos of other fillings...

As an anecdote, the sandwich team even runs a small stand near the main stage where artists can grab a quick snack, even while they're performing.