Draaiorgel

Draaiorgel (Street Organ)

A draaiorgel is a traditional Dutch street organ that is operated by turning a hand-crank, playing music from a series of pinned cylinders. The typical Dutch barrel organ features ornate decorations like colourful dolls and bells, designed to captivate audiences with their beautifully crafted pastel shades. Behind these decorations are the barrel organ pipes that produce the beautiful music people hear.

In many cities and villages in the Netherlands, the barrel organ is a well-known phenomenon. The barrel organ man can always be seen standing on a corner of the street with his instrument and a money box in hand while shaking the coins in his money box and gesturing to passersby to give him a coin. Children even receive a coin from their parents which they are encouraged to drop in the barrel organ man’s money box.

Source: https://dutchreview.com/culture/history/dutch-barrel-organ-culture-in-the-netherlands/