Amsterdam

Violin Making:

A documentary by

Podium Klassiek

A thriving hub for 17th-century violin makers

In the 17th century, the Dutch capital was a thriving commercial center and home to many outstanding violin makers. Their work is often on par with the violins of world-famous Italian masters such as Stradivarius and Guarnerius. Violin maker Hubert de Launay, co-founder of the Hendrik Jacobs Foundation, finds it incomprehensible that these instruments have fallen into obscurity and has launched a major research project to put the Dutch masters and their instruments on the map. This foundation makes it possible to expand the research internationally and to conduct archival research with a professional team in the lead-up to the publication of the book *The Dutch Violin*.

In a new documentary by NTR Podium Klassiek Extra, Hubert takes you on a tour of the places where 17th-century Dutch violin makers once had their workshops. The office of Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds is also located in this neighborhood, which is why the foundation was happy to open its doors to visitors.

A royal violin

The documentary features a very special instrument from the collection of the Musical Instrument Fund: a violin built by Willem van der Sijde in Amsterdam in 1691. The Fund has had this extremely rare violin on loan from the Royal House since 2009. The violin was purchased in 1922 for the then-young Princess Juliana; she likely played it during her childhood. A small crown was added to the violin’s tailpiece in 1978. Since its inclusion in our collection, the violin has been loaned on a long-term basis to violinists who specialize in authentic Baroque performance. Daphne Oltheten played this unique Van der Sijde from 2014 to 2017. Since then, the Van der Sijde has been in the hands of violinist Elise Dupont, who can be seen and heard in the documentary.

Verbeek and Rombouts

Hubert also visits violinist Javier Lupiáñez on Warmoesstraat. He demonstrates another remarkable violin from the collection of Het Muziekinstrumentenfonds: a Gijsbert Verbeek from 1682. According to Javier, this is a very special violin. “I have really never played a violin like this one. Its color is magical and inspiring—inspiring is the word!"

Finally, we’ll take a look at the exceptional work of Pieter Rombouts. And for that, you’ll want to check out the Penta Quintet, because this quintet features five instruments made by this Amsterdam-based violin maker. Three of the five instruments belong to the foundation’s collection: a violin from 1710, a viola from 1720, and a cello from 1699. A magnificent display of cultural heritage in the Oude Kerk, where Rombouts was baptized.

Old Dutch Collection

The collection of the Musical Instrument Fund includes dozens of string instruments made in the Netherlands during the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to instruments by Amsterdam-based makers, the collection also includes instruments by the Cuypers family from The Hague. All of these instruments are in the hands of passionate musicians!

Check out our traditional Dutch instruments