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   Instrument

Which instruments are suitable?

The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation adds instruments to its collection that can make a difference for professional musicians and young, talented musicians. In doing so, we consider quality, playability, and the needs of our collection.

You can submit your proposal by filling out the online form at the bottom of this page.

We believe it’s important that instruments find a home where they can truly shine and continue to be played actively. For this reason, we unfortunately cannot accept every instrument that is offered to us. Sometimes we already have enough instruments available in a particular category, or there appears to be little demand for them among our musicians. It may also be the case that an instrument’s quality or playing condition does not align well with the level of the musicians we support. We always make a careful assessment in these situations.

Which instruments are less suitable?

Grand Pianos and Upright Pianos

In recent years, the foundation has been able to build up a substantial collection of grand pianos thanks to donations and bequests from private individuals. The supply of grand pianos remains substantial, which means we must be very selective to prevent them from remaining unplayed for long periods of time.

Therefore, we can only add grand pianos of the highest quality, in optimal condition, and of the most common models to the collection. Grand pianos that require expenses for maintenance or repair are generally not accepted, unless the donation or bequest also includes a sum to cover these costs.

Unfortunately, we are unable to find homes for acoustic pianos, not even for refugees or other organizations. There is simply little interest or opportunity in that regard.

Wind Instruments

Most wind instruments cannot be included in the foundation’s collection. Their value is usually lower, making it more feasible for musicians to purchase an instrument themselves. Furthermore, many wooden wind instruments (flutes, oboes, clarinets) are subject to significant wear and tear. Bassoons are an exception, as the wood does not crack or rot due to changes in the treatment of the interior.

Instruments for Beginners

We generally do not include beginner instruments in our collection. Fortunately, there are already many good rental and loan options available for these instruments through music schools and violin makers. The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation therefore focuses on instruments that may be of special significance to professional musicians and music students for whom a suitable instrument is financially out of reach.

No instruments on loan from private individuals

Part of our current collection consists of instruments that we have on loan from private individuals, for which we are very grateful. Our goal for the future is to work toward a collection that is entirely owned by us. For this reason, we will no longer be expanding the number of instruments on loan. Consequently, the option to offer your instrument to us on loan is no longer available.

A New Home for Your Instrument

If an instrument doesn't fit into our collection, we'd be happy to help you explore other options, such as selling it to benefit the foundation. It's often most effective if you sell the instrument yourself and donate the proceeds to us.

Are you looking for a worthy home for your cherished instrument, but is it not eligible for the collection of The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation? If so, please take a look at this page listing other organizations that could benefit from your instrument.

Receive back a part of your gift

Donating an instrument to the Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation may offer you a tax benefit. By formally documenting the donation of your instrument on a regular basis, you may be able to recover a significant part of your donation from the tax authorities, depending on your individual circumstances. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about this.

Read more about donating with tax benefits here.