The tradition began in 1875 when the Belgian Leon Warnies founded the first barrel organ rental company in Amsterdam.
He imported organs from France (including Limonaire) and rented them out to operators.
The peak was in the 1920s and 1930s, with dozens of organs on the streets daily (around 40 in Amsterdam alone).
After the Second World War, street operation declined sharply due to competition from radio, jukeboxes, and later other media.
Today, it is primarily a tourist and cultural attraction.
How does it work?
The organ grinder pushes or pulls the organ (often on wheels) to a suitable spot, turns the crank (or nowadays often electrically), and lets the mechanical organ play books or cards.
Money is collected using a cap or collection box.
It is a form of street music with a strong social and folkloric component.
Since 2019, the street operation of barrel organs has been officially included on the Dutch list of intangible cultural heritage.
The way this culture has developed in the Netherlands is unique in the world.
In short: a colorful, mobile street music tradition that has been part of the Dutch street scene for almost 150 years.
