In the winter of 1994, Klaus Dembeck and Willie van Wyk came to Hermanus on holiday and fell in love with Hermanus, the whales and the friendliness of the locals. Hermanus was like a magnet that drew them towards it – they simply had to make it their home.
Both Willie and Klaus have spent their lives surrounded by all forms of art, especially music. On completing his opera studies and singing for PACT Opera, State Theatre, Pretoria, Gauteng born Willie went to Europe where he performed at the well known Wiener Kammeroper in Vienna, Austria. It was here that he met the German-born Klaus who was an opera director and manager there.
Klaus has spent his whole life immersed in the world of art and is a graduate from the Universty of Hildesheim in Germany where he has a degree in art education and management which encompasses all forms of art – music, art and literature.
They moved to Germany and spent 12 years living and performing in the quaint riverside city of Halle an der Saale, famed for its international Haendelfestspiele at the birthplace of George Friederich Haendel, the famous Baroque composer.
When they moved to Hermanus in 2003, Klaus and Willie opened a Coffee shop, Café Rosenkavalier. They thoroughly enjoyed their time here and held exhibitions, music and literature evenings, mingled with local artists and forged lasting friendships. They sold Rosenkavalier and Bellini Gallery & Cappuccino-Bar was born.
Willie and Klaus have certainly found the light of Africa that they missed in Europe. Their tranquil gallery is filled with light and music and is a fabulous place to view the magnificent paintings rendered by local Hermanus and Western Cape artists, whose art can be found in homes all over the world. The art is contemporary.
They host solo and group exhibitions. Each individual piece on display is captivating and is carefully selected by Klaus and Willie. You can relax in glorious surroundings, sip a delicious cappuccino or a glass of wine and nibble on delicious home baked treats surrounded by beautiful art.

A guest wrote in the Bellini visitors book – “Art and coffee is music to the soul. Can I move in and stay forever?”

Leigh Bouwer
The Editor -Whale Talk Magazine - May/June 2009