DUTCH ORGAN TOUR: East and South-East Holland, German and French influences
May 29 en June 3
Join this magnificent organ tour to several beautiful historical organs in the East ad South-East of Holland, including world famous instruments in Zutphen, Arnhem, Helmond etc. The organs will be demonstrated by several professional organists and tour participants will have an opportunity to play if they wish. The price Includes 5 nights with breakfast in a 4* hotel, two dinners and all transport in Holland with three comfortable coaches.
Itinerary in a nutshell:
Monday 12:
After arrival at Schiphol airport or railway station, the coach will take us to our hotel in Cuijk (near Nijmegen) where we will enjoy a 3 course dinner after check-in.
Tuesday 13:
After breakfast we leave for the old city of Doesburg where we find the Martini kerk with the large Walker organ, originally build for Rotterdam, in 1916. Then we drive to the city of Zutphen with a Timpe organ in de St. Janskerk and the famous 17th century Bader in the Walburgkerk. We will enjoy a meal in the pitoresque city-center of Zutphen before we return to our hotel.
Wednesday 14:
Today we will visit the city of Arnhem. First the Koepel (domed) church with a Naber organ. After the lunch we go to the Eusebiuskerk, just as Doesburg rebuild after the devastating consequences of the war. The present organ from Strumphler comes from Amsterdam and we hear and play also the Van Vulpen Choirorgan. We stay afterwards in Arnhem for a meal.
Thursday 15:
We start near the hotel in de Martinuskerk of Cuijk. Here we find an organ from Belgian origin, build by Severijn in the 17th century. After Cuijk a typical Brabant Organ from the 19th century, build by F.C. Smits, in Deurne will be visited. We close this day in Helmond with the beautiful Robustelly/Smits organ from 1776.
Friday 16:
This final day we visit the province of Limburg. In Roermond the beautiful Carolus Chapel houses a precious instrument, the case build by Le Picard and the instrument inside by Robustelly. After Roermond we go to the church of Neerritter, very near the Belgian border. Here we find a beautiful organ from the Limburg organbuilders Pereboom and Leyser. We end the day with a visit to the workshop of the Verschueren organbuilders, who restored all the organs that we have visited Thursday and Friday. Back in our hotel we enjoy the included diner.
Saturday 17:
After breakfast, on our way to Schiphol, we pay a final visit to the English organ of Nieuwer ter Aa, between Utrecht and Amsterdam, build by Forster and Andrews in 1899. This organ was a gift from the English spouse of the local nobelman at the end of the 19th century.After this recital the coaches will take us to the airport or train station for the journey home ending a stimulating week in which we will have seen, heard and played some of the most beautifull and famous organs that Holland has to offer.