Print this page

Breda, Grote Kerk (1999/2000)

Breda, Grote Kerk  (1999/2000) Martijn van der Horst

Between early October 1999 until May 2000 the restoration of the large four-manual Flentrop organ in the Grote Kerk of Breda (Netherlands) took place. This unique instrument, famous far beyond the Dutch border, counts 53 stops and 3.780 pipes. This important restoration contract however was not awarded to Flentrop, but to one of Dirk Flentrop’s former employees Jan L. van den Heuvel, who registered himself as independent organ builder in 1967. In the past 33 years the valuable and approved technical building principles from the earlier glorious period of Dutch organ building were all applied by Jan L. van den Heuvel-Orgelbouw and their reputation was established worldwide.

The organ in the Grote Kerk of Breda is one of the larger organs in the Netherlands and the history goes back to the 16th century. At that time the organ only possessed 16 stops. After being displaced several times the organ arrived at its present spot in 1712. This happened under directions of the organist and organ builder Jacobus Zeemans who carried out various extensions and installed a new case for the Great. The old case was used for the Positive. After several renovation activities by a/o Johann Heinrich Hartmann Bätz, the organ got a new wind supply in 1780. Afterwards organ builders like C. van Oeckelen and Maarschalkerweerd further extended the organ. In 1904 the renovation of the church started and the organ was dismantled a few times.

After the completion of the church restoration Dirk A. Flentrop from Zaandam built in 1966 under the supervision of organist and organ expert Jaap Hillen a new instrument into which old pipes and parts were partly used. The Borstwerk mainly consists of materials from an old (from 1760) Belgian organ. Some other historical stops used were the Hobo 8’ (built by Anneessens) and the Schalmei 8’ (built around 1750 by J.B. le Picard). At the time the organ was built, Jan L. van den Heuvel was one of Dirk Flentrop’s employees so he knew the organ, and the work of Flentrop, quite well.

Jaap Hillen, who acted already in 1966 as organ expert, again was the consultant.
The organ was re-inaugurated on May 28th, during this concert Jaap Hillen celebrated his 50-year jubilee as organist of the Grote- of Onze Lieve Vrouwe Kerk.

There are 33 photo's showing the inside of the organ:

Additional Info

  • Operations: Restoration
  • Location: Breda (NL)
  • Stoplist:
    Pedaal, C-f1
    Prestant 16'
    Subbas 16'
    Octaaf 8'
    Gedekt 8'
    Roerquint 5 1/3'
    Octaaf 4'
    Nachthoorn 2' II
    Mixtuur V
    Bazuin 16'
    Trompet 8'
    Klaroen 4'


    Rugwerk (I), C-g3
    Prestant 8' I-II
    Holpijp 8'
    Octaaf 4'
    Fluit 4'
    Octaaf 2'
    Quint 1 1/3'
    Sesquialter II
    Mixtuur IV
    Dulciaan 8'
    Tremulant



    Hoofdwerk (II), C-g3
    Prestant 16' I-II
    Octaaf 8'
    Roerfluit 8'
    Octaaf 4'
    Quintadeen 4'
    Quint 2 2/3'
    Octaaf 2'
    Cornet V
    Mixtuur IV-V
    Scherp III-IV
    Trompet 16'
    Trompet 8'

    Bovenwerk (III), C-g3
    Gedekt 16'
    Prestant 8' I-II
    Holpijp 8'
    Viola 8'
    Octaaf 4'
    Open Fluit 4'
    Nasard 2 2/3'
    Fluit 2'
    Terts 1 3/5'
    Flageolet 1'
    Mixtuur III-IV
    Schalmei 8'
    Hobo 8'
    Tremulant
    Borstwerk (IV), C-g3
    Gedekt 8'
    Quintadeen 8'
    Prestant 4'
    Roerfluit 4'
    Gemshoorn 2'
    Quint 1 1/3'
    Cornet V
    Vox Humana 8' (b/d)
    Tremulant
    Klokkenspel




    Couplers
    Rugwerk/Pedaal
    Hoofdwerk/Pedaal
    Bovenwerk/Pedaal
    Rugwerk/Hoofdwerk
    Bovenwerk/Hoofdwerk
    Borstwerk/Hoofdwerk

    Cimbelster






    Compount stops:

    Pedaal Nachthoorn 2 II
    C
    2 (stopped)
    1 (open)
    Pedaal Mixtuur V
    C c0
    2 2/3 2 2/3
    2 2
    1 1/3 1 1/3
    1 1
    2/3 1
    Rugwerk Mixtuur IV
    C F f0 f1 f2
    1 1 1/3 2 2 2/3 4
    2/3 1 1 1/3 2 2 2/3
    1/2 2/3 1 1 1/3 2
    1/3 1/2 2/3 1 1 1/3
    Rugwerk Sesquialter II
    a0
    2 2/3
    1 3/5
    Hoofdwerk Mixtuur IV-V
    C c0 c1 c2
    2 2 2/3 4 5 1/3
    1 1/3 2 2 2/3 4
    1 1 1/3 2 2 2/3
    2/3 1 2 2
    1 1/3 2
    Hoofdwerk Scherp III-IV
    C c0 c1 c2 c3
    1 1 1/3 2 2 2/3 4
    2/3 1 1 1/3 2 2 2/3
    1/2 1 1 2 2
    2/3 1 1 1/3 1 1/3
    Hoofdwerk Cornet V
    c1
    8
    4
    2 2/3
    2
    1 3/5
    Bovenwerk Mixtuur III-IV
    C c0 c1 c2
    2 2 2/3 4 4
    1 1/3 2 2 2/3 2 2/3
    1 1 1/3 2 2
    1 1 1/3 2
    Borstwerk Cornet V
    c#1
    8
    4
    2 2/3
    2
    1 3/5

Image Gallery