Museum Speelklok in the atmosphere of the funfair this summer

As a showpiece, the fairground organ “The Double Ruth” shines on the museum stage. Also on display are creepy automatons in the cabinet of curiosities, the haunted piano and the newly restored miniature fairground.

On Wednesday afternoon, 2 July, is the festive opening afternoon of ‘At the Fair! A summer full of music and magic’. Everyone is welcome between 3pm and 6pm and the museum will be open free of charge.

Place for wonder and entertainment

The fair is a place for wonder and entertainment. For a long time, this has been accompanied by machines and music. The funfair as we know it today originated in the 19th century due to rapid technical developments. But the oldest fair dates back to around the year 1000 in Wijk bij Duurstede, in the province of Utrecht. There is also a long tradition of fairs in the city of Utrecht. Historical photos from the Utrecht Archive show the entertainment at the Utrecht fair through the years. There is also a wonderful collection of wooden objects of fairground animals on display.

The Double Ruth: the ultimate fairground organ

“The Double Ruth” with a pioneering mechanism was built by the German company A. Ruth & Sons. Musical quality is most important to its makers. The fairground organ first appears near a roller coaster. Later, the Hommerson family bought “De Dubbele Ruth” and placed it next to the bumper cars. The organ ended up in the collection of Museum Speelklok in 1957, where it now shines on the stage; besides merry fairground music, it can play full operas and other classical music.

In the Dance Hall, in the museum café and in the nave of the museum, there are other instruments and legendary organs on display that have been at the fair in the past such as “De Schuyt” and “De Drie Pruiken”.

Festive opening afternoon on Wednesday 2 July

Everyone is welcome to visit the museum during the festive afternoon on Wednesday 2 July from 3pm to 6pm. There will be special fairground tours this afternoon at 3.50pm and 4.30pm and children can do the ice cream scavenger hunt. There will also be nostalgic games such as catching sticks and laughing mirrors. Between 4pm and 5pm, there will be an ice cream cart from Mijs IJs with free ice creams. Entry is free; registration upfront is not required.

Music with your ice cream

In the nineteenth century, many Italians move around Europe looking for work. Some of them take to the streets with barrel organs and start selling typical Italian ice cream. Other music machines can often be heard at the ice cream carts as well.

At the museum entrance desk this summer on Fri/Sat/Sun, you will get a voucher for an ice cream with two scoops for €2 at Mijs IJs on the bridge near Museum Speelklok. This promotion runs until 30 September.

Special fairground weekend

The weekend of 1 to 3 August is a special funfair weekend at Museum Speelklok. For one euro extra on the entrance fee per person, visitors this weekend can take a ride on the mini merry-go-round and receive a free typical fairground delicacy. Special fairground tours are also available on these days.

Photos:
Miniature fairground: Eric Kampherbeek
Fairground in Utrecht (1928): G.M. Vos from Het Utrechts Archief