Harmonium Museum Paasloo

Private museum in a barn near Paasloo with around 70 restored harmoniums that visitors may look at and play themselves.

Opening hours

About the museum

The Harmonium Museum was founded in 2007 in Paasloo, a village in the hedgerow landscape on the edge of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park, out of the private passion of Henk Braad. A trained organ builder, tuner and restorer, he has worked on organs since 1971 and was repeatedly offered discarded harmoniums in his profession. He repaired them and set them up in the barn behind his farmhouse, which he has lovingly renovated in the traditional style since 1986. His wife Marijke, a painter and former forester, runs the gallery De Horst on the same farm, through which one enters the museum.

Today around 65 to 70 restored instruments stand there, the oldest from about 1850, the youngest from about 1950. They come from Belgium, France, North America, England and Germany. On view are both pressure-wind harmoniums and the softer-sounding suction-wind harmoniums that became common later, as well as instruments from churches in the area and Friesland and a table harmonium from Boston dating from 1859.

The collection has two small rooms and an open loft. Because space is limited, another instrument has to make way for each new donation. The harmoniums may not only be looked at but also played; on tours they are sounded by way of explanation.

Highlights

Around 65–70 restored harmoniums, the oldest from about 1850
Instruments to try out, tour with music and commentary
Pressure-wind and suction-wind harmoniums from Belgium, France, North America, England and Germany
Museum in the barn of a farm at the Weerribben-Wieden National Park
Gallery De Horst on the same farm