Concert Night
On 3 October, everyone is welcome to attend the concert night organised by the Kring van Draaiorgelvrienden. The musical machines from our collection will be playing their most beautiful tunes, with a restored organ taking centre stage!
This concert night marks the return of the street organ ‘the Arab’ to Museum Speelklok. Over the past few years, the restoration studio has been working hard on this organ, and it will soon be reborn in the museum. The other highlights of the collection will also be heard at their very best.
Programme & admission prices
All organ and music enthusiasts are welcome to gather in the museum café for drinks and snacks from 17.00. The program officially starts at 19.00. Friends of Museum Speelklok, as well as members of KDV and Mechamusica, receive free entry for two people. Regular admission prices apply to non-members.
About ‘The Arab’
This organ was originally built in Belgium, but after the Second World War the Dutch Perlee firm made it into the organ it is today. It played throughout the Netherlands and was very succesful. Because it is a wonderful example of the Dutch organ tradition and has a very rich history, it has been added to the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science’s list of Dutch protected cultural assets.
After 1935, this organ was nicknamed ‘The Arab’ in Amsterdam, in reference to the paintings on the right and left side panels. These paintings are an example of exoticism: images that glorify ‘the East’, but that are also stereotyped.
In 2008, the organ came into the possession of the museum and the front was restored. Even today, the organ is much in demand for performances and is regularly temporarily âdisappearsâ from the permanent display.