Flentrop is a Dutch company based in

Zaandam Zaandam () is a city in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad and received City rights in the Netherlands, city rights in 1811. It is located on the river Zaan ...

that builds and restores

organs In a multicellular organism, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. In the hierarchy of life, an organ lies between tissue and an organ system. Tissues are formed from same type cells to a ...

History

The company originated in 1903 when Hendrik Wicher Flentrop (1866-1950) from

Koog aan de Zaan Koog aan de Zaan () is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zaanstad, and lies about 11 km northwest of Amsterdam. History Koog aan de Zaan developed in the 16th century on the western bank of ...

, originally a house painter by trade, and organist at the Westzijderkerk in Zaandam, started a piano and organ company. He believed that old organs could not be adapted to contemporary tastes, but had valid sound nonetheless. In 1915, after he had gained experience with restoration and enlargement of organs, he built his first new organ. Beginning in 1922 he corresponded with

Albert Schweitzer Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer (; 14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was a German and French polymath from Alsace. He was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. As a Lutheran minister, ...

, which resulted in pronounced opinions concerning the demands which had to be made on the organ. Dirk Andries Flentrop (1910-2003), son of Hendrik Wicher Flentrop and Christina Anna Dekker, took control of the company in 1940. Important organs, such as that of Hans van Covelen in the large church at

Alkmaar Alkmaar () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Netherlands, located in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland. Alkmaar is well known fo ...

, and the Schnitger organs in the large church at

Zwolle Zwolle () is a List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It is the Capital city, capital of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Overijssel ...

and the Laurenskerk in Alkmaar, were restored. In addition he built numerous instruments in the

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(most notably those in Adolphus Busch Hall at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

, and in St. Mark's Cathedral, in Seattle, Washington), and restored two in

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. J. A. Steketee (b. 1936) led the company from 1976 to 1998. Under his direction, the organ of Johannes Duyschot in the Westzijderkerk at Zaandam was restored. Tasks were also carried out in foreign countries:

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, and

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. Additionally, the organ of the Holy Name Cathedral was built in

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, and in the Netherlands the organs of the Westerkerk and the

Concertgebouw Concertgebouw may refer to one of the following concert halls: * Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands * Concertgebouw, Bruges, Belgium * Concertgebouw de Vereeniging, Netherlands {{disambiguation Buildings and structures disambiguation pages ...

, and the St. John's Cathedral, were restored. Cees van Oostenbrugge was managing director from 1998 until his death in 2008. During his tenure, a new restoration was carried out of the Hans van Covelen organ, which is the oldest playable organ of the Netherlands, originally built in 1511. Frits Elshout was managing director from 2008 through 2016, followed by Erik Winkel. All directors have also been church organists.

References

{{Commons category, Flentrop Companies established in 1903 Musical instrument manufacturing companies of the Netherlands Pipe organ building companies Dutch brands Zaanstad