On Monday the 12th of May (2nd Whitsun Day) there will be a very
big organ show in the beautiful old city center of Haarlem.  There will
be fifty organs playing in the streets, a real Cuban organ will give
a live performance with a percussion group like it is done in Cuba,
there will be concerts on the world-famous Müller organ in the splendid
St. Bavochurch in combination with classical street organ music,
there will be a performance of the famous Dutch group Flairck, which
uses a newly-built organ on stage with their music, there will be organ
grinding competitions, line dancing, salsa and rock and roll dancing
to organ music, performances for children by two clowns with a little
organ -- more than enough to fill your day.

On Sunday the 11th of May you can visit the Haarlem Draaiorgelmuseum,
where there is a big collection of organs with the centerpiece, the
112-key Marenghi/Frei Kunkels Organ, which last year was admitted
by the government as one of Holland's cultural treasures.  Besides
that there are organs by Gavioli, Marenghi, Mortier (three of them!),
Bursens and Minning.  Also a big John Compton Theatre organ can be
heard.

This museum, which has been run only by volunteers during all its life,
will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2009, together with the 100th
birthday of the fabulous Kunkels Organ.

The museum will be closed on Monday the 12th of May.  Information can
be obtained at http://www.draaiorgelmuseum.org/ or
<info@draaiorgelmuseum.org>

Hope to see you there!
Jan Kees de Ruijter

 [ Whitsun, Whitsunday, or Whit Sunday are alternate English names
 [ for Pentecost, also called Pfingsten (German) or Pinkster (Dutch).
 [ Many nice photos of street organs at 2007 Haarlem Pinkstermanifestatie
 [ are presented at http://www.fotoalbumracer.nl/03Box1_01Draai9923.html
 [ -- Robbie