G. Perlee Draaiorgelmuseum
Historic barrel organ workshop of the Perlee family in the Jordaan, which can be visited by appointment and shows organ building and the making of punched music books.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The barrel organ firm dates back to 1875, when the Belgian Leon Warnies opened a business in Amsterdam. At first he mainly rented out cylinder organs, later he also built and repaired barrel organs. In 1932 the Perlee family took over the business and set it up at Westerstraat 119 in the Jordaan, where it still operates today.
The workshop also serves as a museum: visitors see how organs are repaired and painted and how the punched music books are made. This is not a demonstration but daily operation, in which tools from the 19th century are still used. Typical of the firm's organ fronts are the many painted roses.
In 2008 Perlee sold his twelve historic organs to the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht, with the agreement that he could continue to restore and use the instruments.
Highlights
- Barrel organ workshop still at work in the Jordaan
- Making and punching of the music books
- Historic tools from the 19th century
- Try it yourself: turning a barrel organ at the right tempo
- Organs with the typical painted roses
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
- Hands-on stations
Visitors can turn a barrel organ themselves and insert a punched music book.
Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits only by arrangement by telephone; an expert guides you through the workshop and several showpieces. |
