The Organ
With a French touch
Unique and authentic
A symphonic organ
The organ was built by the most influential organ builder of the 19th century, Aristide Cavaillé-Coll of Paris. Cavaillé-Coll, who also made the organ in Notre-Dame de Paris and Saint-Sulpice in Paris, built the organ for the Walloon Church in 1885.
The organ has a warm sound, can sound overwhelming, but can also sound soft and buzz heavenly.
Only a few Cavaillé-Coll organs can be admired in the Netherlands. It can count itself among one of the finest organs in the country.
A little too Dutch
When the Walloon community had to move from the Hofkapel to Noordeinde, the then organ was in such poor condition that it was not possible to move it. Thanks to the financial contribution of Louis Napoleon, a new organ could be purchased. A truly Dutch organ by Künckel from Rotterdam.
The French-oriented church community preferred an organ with French allure. So in 1884, they decided to have a new organ built. The Dutch organ was sold in 1885 to the Reformed Church in Hazerswoude-Dorp, where it can still be admired today in ‘De Korenaar’.
French and fine
The Cavaillé Coll organ in the Walloon Church has a neo-Gothic case. The five-part front is composed of a flat middle tower (with 4 pipes) with a flat pipe field (with 9 pipes respectively) and a round pedal tower (with 5 pipes each) ending with a two-part flat field with carving, but without front pipes.
The organ has 23 stops divided into two manuals and pedal. The Grand Orgue (1st keyboard) has 8 stops, the Récit Expressif (2nd keyboard) 9 stops and the Pédale 6 stops (including 4 transmissions).
Some changes were made to the organ between 1930 and 1954 by J.C. Sanders and Son. In 1983 and 1984, the organ was restored by organ builder S.F. Blank under the supervision and advice of Henk Kooiker and Maarten Vente.
Concerts and organ performances
Every Sunday morning at 10.30am during the church service, the beautiful organ is played by one of our regular organists. Organ concerts are also organised with some regularity.
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