They include Dutch and European masterpieces, including wind, keyboard, string and percussion instruments. Each one tells its own story about music’s role in society. Their shape and style, as well as the materials from which they were made, all convey information about their cultural, political and economic context. Another area of interest is the extent to which shape and material define the mechanical and acoustic characteristics of the instrument. The Netherlands was an important centre of production of woodwind instruments in the 17th and 18th centuries, and they form the core of the collection. Recent donations such as the Han de Vries collection of oboes and the Herman Ehrenfeld collection of flutes have contributed to the international renown of this exceptional collection.
Getting started with the collection: