Organ Nieuwe Kerk, Pipe organ in Nieuwe Kerk, Katwijk, Netherlands.
The Van den Heuvel organ in the Nieuwe Kerk contains 80 stops and 104 ranks positioned behind a restored facade from 1822. Its Positif section with 18 speaking voices allows performance of both classical and contemporary works.
This organ was built between 1981 and 1983, replacing an earlier G. van Leeuwen instrument from the 1940s. That earlier organ incorporated pipes from an original Nolting organ dating to 1822.
The organ reflects Dutch musical traditions while incorporating design ideas from French organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll in how it sounds and plays.
The organ is accessible during church services and special concerts held at the venue. Visitors should check ahead for performance schedules, as the instrument is primarily played during liturgical occasions.
The builder Jan L. van den Heuvel designed special mechanical slider systems that give organists distinct tactile feedback while playing. These technical features make the playing experience noticeably different for musicians.
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