Draaiorgelmuseum Haarlem
Museum of historic barrel organs in Haarlem, open on Sundays with free admission and organ music from street and dance hall organs.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Draaiorgelmuseum is run by the foundation “Het Kunkels Orgel”. Its founders were already looking after the large Marenghi/Carl Frei dance organ of the Kunkels company from Roermond in 1958, had it restored and placed it in a foundation in 1962 so that it would be preserved. After more than ten years of restoration, the instrument became the centrepiece of the museum, which opened in 1969 in an old factory hall on the Werfstraat in Haarlem.
In the following years further barrel organs were added, as property or on loan. At the end of the 1990s the museum was threatened with closure and the collection with being put into storage; the result was a protest march through Haarlem by regulars and organ enthusiasts with no fewer than 40 barrel organs. After several years of hard work, the museum was able to move in 2004 to its current premises on the Kuppersweg, in use since 9 May of that year.
The collection comprises historically valuable instruments, the oldest dating from 1900: fairground and dance hall organs, organs for cafés and, of course, street organs, as still occasionally heard in Dutch towns today. In addition there is an English theatre organ of the Compton brand. Dutch street organ culture has been on the list of intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands since 4 October 2019.
Highlights
- Historic barrel and dance hall organs, the oldest from 1900
- Large Marenghi/Carl Frei dance organ “Het Kunkelsorgel” as the centrepiece
- English Compton theatre organ
- Sunday organ concerts with free admission
- Street organ culture an intangible cultural heritage of the Netherlands since 2019
Permanent exhibition
- Sammlung historischer Drehorgeln – Street, fairground, dance hall and café organs, including the Kunkelsorgel, the Gavioli concert organ “de Leeuw” and a Compton theatre organ; the instruments are played in concert operation.
- Founded
- 1969
- Operated by
- Stichting Het Kunkels Orgel
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups (15+ people) | –Group packages for 15 or more people with guided tour and, on request, buffet; price list on request. |
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Free admission on Sundays; prices for group packages on request by email.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is fully wheelchair accessible and has toilets for people with disabilities.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Waarderbrug
From Haarlem Centraal (exit Stationsplein) take bus line 14 towards Haarlem Noord to the Waarderbrug stop, then cross the bridge and take the second street on the right (Heringaweg), at the end turn right; no. 3 in the third side street on the right.
On foot from Haarlem Centraal station about 20 minutes. By car via the A9 and A200 towards Haarlem, past IKEA into the Waarderpolder industrial estate; satnav: 2031 EA, no. 3.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
Group packages with guided tour, simple lunch, birthday party or buffet with barrel organ music by arrangement.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
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| Good to know | Sunday concert afternoons with changing organs (programme in the calendar). Groups receive a more detailed tour in which each instrument is introduced, and may turn the handle of an organ themselves on request. |
