Written by Ambre Montespan - Updated on Aug 3, 2026
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Are you thinking about buying a handpan? Would you like to learn more about the professionals who specialise in crafting this percussion instrument in Belgium? Where exactly are they located? What materials do they use? What are the prices and lead times for getting one?
As a handpan player and enthusiast for over 10 years, I’m naturally interested in makers who create handpans around the world. So I did a little research in Belgium, and in this article I’ll share all the workshops I discovered in the country.
There are currently only three handpan manufacturers in Belgium, which is quite a small number. They are AOS Handpans, Telos Instruments, and Art MelodiouS.
After reading this article, you’ll learn:
- The exact location of each Belgian handpan workshop
- The lead times for receiving your instrument and the typical prices charged
With this information, you’ll have everything you need to decide whether buying from one of these professionals is a good idea for your budget and expectations.
Now, let’s discover the Belgian artisans who craft Hang drums.
Which artisans make handpans in Belgium?
Belgium is not exactly a major hub for handpan makers, since there are only three in the entire country. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
AOS Handpans: Ellie Mannette’s Legacy in Brussels
Behind AOS Handpans are two men, Olivier Trappeniers and Darren Dyke, who have been partners in the capital since 2015. While the workshop’s name may be relatively understated, the name Darren Dyke catches the attention of anyone familiar with the history of this steel instrument. This craftsman spent six years apprenticing under Ellie Mannette, the Trinidadian considered the father of the modern steelpan. He has been professionally tuning steelpans since 1996 and began working with handpans in 2014, a year before AOS was founded.
Suffice it to say that his craft has deep roots. His reputation, in fact, extends far beyond our borders: Pantheon Steel, the American manufacturer of the Halo, chose him as their representative for Belgium after they met at the 2013 PASIC convention, and young European instrument makers today cite his teachings. In practical terms, AOS works with nitrided steel and ember steel on 50 and 53 cm shells. The workshop offers models ranging from 8 to more than 11 notes, with the option for bottom notes and custom scales. Expect to pay around A$1680 to A$2520 for an 8- or 9-note model, and up to A$3360-A$4200 for the most extensive models. Darren Dyke’s tuning workshop is located in Auderghem, where he still works today.
Telos Instruments: The Perseverance of a Man from Ghent
Sander Hebbelinck, the founder of Telos Instruments, was sixteen years old when he decided he would become a handpan maker. In 2015, while still a teenager, he came across a video by a Japanese band called Matsumoto-Zoku, which notably features handpan player Reo Matsumoto. The video introduced him to the handpan, whose sound he loved so much that he decided to start crafting this percussion instrument himself. For nearly four years, he tried making handpans as an amateur while keeping his main job in event production. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sander Hebbelinck lost his job. He bounced back, and in 2021, he decided to launch his own brand, Telos Instruments, in Ghent, Belgium. The name comes from ancient Greek and means “the ultimate goal.”
Technically, he designs his instruments using nitrided steel shells measuring 53 cm in diameter and has announced the upcoming release of stainless steel, ember steel, and a 50 cm format for tighter budgets. His instruments start at 8 notes, with custom scales and optional bottom notes, in a range of about A$1680 to A$2520 for entry-level configurations. The turnaround time is relatively short for an artisan, at less than three months, making it probably the fastest option in the country. Here’s a video of one of his creations:
Art MelodiouS, a Liège-based story that began on the street
The story of Art MelodiouS began in 2008, when Jonathan Leroy, known as “Jona” in the community, heard a handpan player composing a few melodies right on the street. Four years later, in 2012, he founded Art MelodiouS. To my knowledge, it is the oldest handpan workshop still operating in Belgium. Some time later, the workshop welcomed a second artisan: “Pierino,” born in 1989 and originally from Herstal, who began learning the craft in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, much like Sander Hebbelinck of Telos Instruments had done before him.
The company offers two handpan models: the Sylphe Pantam and the BePan. The latter is the classic model in the line-up. It starts at 8 notes for a price of A$2690. Production lead times are announced at 3 months, and the handpan will measure between 50 and 53 cm. As for the Sylphe Pantam, prices start at A$3360, and production lead times are estimated between 6 months and 1 year. However, this is a more advanced model that can reach more than 20 notes if desired. On their website, the two artisans summarise their approach without fanfare: each instrument carries a part of themselves and is built around balance and stability. It’s the kind of statement you understand better after watching a video of the hammering process.
Treat yourself to an excellent handpan for playing melodies
Belgium doesn’t make many handpans, but it makes them well. A tuner trained by Ellie Mannette in Brussels, a Liège-based workshop that has held its ground since 2012, and a young man from Ghent who spent four years learning before striking his first hammer blow. This article has introduced you to all the workshops this European country has to offer.
However, the lead times and prices quoted by these professionals are unlikely to suit everyone. Indeed, with prices ranging from A$2520 to A$5040 and waiting times of up to 1 year, it’s difficult for many people to afford a handpan. That’s why I strongly recommend turning to the Instruments du Monde store, which offers much shorter delivery times as well as softer, more attractive prices. For example, the 10-note stainless steel expert handpan will let you start learning this wonderful instrument with confidence.
Discover this fabulous handpan right now by clicking on the image below:
Now that you’ve taken these tips into account, do you know the difference between a Hang drum and a handpan? I invite you to find out in this interesting article exploring the historical roots of this sound object.
