MOOS TOUR 2026
Thursday 5th November 2026 - 4 days from £825 based on sharing a room
Sole Occupancy Supplement: £335 per person
On this special tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mechanical Organ Owners’ Society we visit a selection of the best of these collections, some of which are not open to the general public, visit the workshop of two renowned organ builders and find ourselves in places where a real dance hall atmosphere lives on.
Sole Occupancy Supplement: £335 per person
On this special tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mechanical Organ Owners’ Society we visit a selection of the best of these collections, some of which are not open to the general public, visit the workshop of two renowned organ builders and find ourselves in places where a real dance hall atmosphere lives on.
Day 1: Thursday 5 November 2026
Travel from the UK to Antwerp We pick up at Stevenage, Ebbsfleet, Maidstone Services and Dover before joining a ferry for the short sea crossing to Calais. Continue by coach to our hotel in Antwerp with dinner on arrival. The rest of the evening is free to just relax or perhaps explore the historic City of Antwerp, once the centre of the Belgian mechanical organ industry.
Photos below of MOOS members enjoying such a dinner on a previous tour.
Travel from the UK to Antwerp We pick up at Stevenage, Ebbsfleet, Maidstone Services and Dover before joining a ferry for the short sea crossing to Calais. Continue by coach to our hotel in Antwerp with dinner on arrival. The rest of the evening is free to just relax or perhaps explore the historic City of Antwerp, once the centre of the Belgian mechanical organ industry.
Photos below of MOOS members enjoying such a dinner on a previous tour.
Day 2: Friday 6 November 2026 Antwerp, Helmond, Bussum & Haarlem
We start the day with a visit to the workshop of Gebroeders Decap Antwerpen. Founded in 1902, the firm remains located in the heart of Antwerp in Essenstraat. Hidden away behind a very ordinary looking exterior is an extensive workshop that is steeped in history and which continues in operation to this day. It is also home to several organs including the 92 key “Retro” and 121 key “Metro”.
We start the day with a visit to the workshop of Gebroeders Decap Antwerpen. Founded in 1902, the firm remains located in the heart of Antwerp in Essenstraat. Hidden away behind a very ordinary looking exterior is an extensive workshop that is steeped in history and which continues in operation to this day. It is also home to several organs including the 92 key “Retro” and 121 key “Metro”.
Next, we head to Helmond in the Netherlands to visit the Danszaal Bocken, home to the magnificent 112 key “Bocken’s Gaudin”, together with a Mortier, a second Gaudin and some other instruments. Now housed in a superb new hall, it is a great credit to the Stichting Draaiorgels Helmond who campaigned to find the organs a new and appropriate home, following the loss of its previous premises. We will be served a light sandwich lunch on arrival and will raise a glass to commemorate our 50th anniversary, with a bar available throughout for the purchase of any extra drinks.
Our final visit of the day is to Elbert Pluer in Bussum where will have the privilege of seeing the newly completed 128 key concert organ “De Onvoltooide”. Drawing upon his lifetime of experience of organ building, Elbert has created a truly unique masterpiece with a character all of its own. Such is the versatility of the organ that you might at one moment think you are listening to a fair organ, but the next moment think that you are listening to a street organ or even a dance organ. We then head to our hotel in Haarlem for dinner and our overnight stay. The evening is free for relaxation and perhaps a visit to the hotel bar.
Day 3: Saturday 7 November 2026 Northern Holland Organ Visits
Today we firstly head north to Friesland, a fascinating journey across the amazing Afsluitdijk, a 20 mile causeway across the mouth of Zuiderzee that links the Province of North Holland to Friesland. Our destination is Beetgum, where we visit the home of Simon Loopstra. Simon owns a number of organs, including the 78 key “Swedish Mortier” and the 105 key Mortier “Steeple Jazz” and usually has a number of ongoing projects in progress.
Today we firstly head north to Friesland, a fascinating journey across the amazing Afsluitdijk, a 20 mile causeway across the mouth of Zuiderzee that links the Province of North Holland to Friesland. Our destination is Beetgum, where we visit the home of Simon Loopstra. Simon owns a number of organs, including the 78 key “Swedish Mortier” and the 105 key Mortier “Steeple Jazz” and usually has a number of ongoing projects in progress.
We return to the province of North Holland to visit the collection of Ruud Vader. Ruud is the owner of an outstanding collection of German fairground organs, the star attraction being the model 39 “Swiss Ruth”, with its imposing classical façade. It is one of only two organs of the type built by the f irm and represents the pinnacle of German organ design.
After an early dinner at our hotel in Haarlem, we then head for Haarlem Organ Museum, one of the longest established and best museums of its sort. Here we will enjoy music from a wide range of organs, the largest being the “Kunkels Organ” a giant Marenghi dance organ that was subsequently rebuilt by Carl Frei for fairground use when in the ownership of the Hommerson family. Another great attraction is “De Lekkerkerker”, one of the finest street organs built by Carl Frei, now expertly restored by Adrie Vergeer. We return to our hotel in Haarlem for our overnight stay. Please note that a small admission charge is payable locally for entry to the Ruud Vader Collection and the Haarlem Organ Museum.
Day 4: Sunday 8 November 2026 Return via France
Today we head home, but stop off in Northern France at the famous “Café des Orgues” in the village of Herzeele. Time stands still in this very special place, where local people gather to drink and dance away their afternoon to the accompaniment of music from the three Mortier dance organs, creating a unique atmosphere, where time seems to have stood still. We continue to Calais for our ferry crossing and set down at locations as on our outward journey.
Today we head home, but stop off in Northern France at the famous “Café des Orgues” in the village of Herzeele. Time stands still in this very special place, where local people gather to drink and dance away their afternoon to the accompaniment of music from the three Mortier dance organs, creating a unique atmosphere, where time seems to have stood still. We continue to Calais for our ferry crossing and set down at locations as on our outward journey.
Where we stay
Radisson Blu Astrid, Antwerp 5 November 2026 - 1 night Modern, four-star hotel in an ideal location opposite Antwerp Central Station and near Astrid Square. The hotel, designed by architect Michael Graves, offers views of the area’s stunning 19th-century architecture. Comfortable bedrooms designed by architect Alex Kravetz with all modern amenities.
Van der Valk Hotel, Haarlem 6 November 2026 - 2 nights Modern, well-appointed hotel located on the edge of the charming Dutch city of Haarlem. Facilities at this contemporary hotel include bar, restaurant, sauna, steam room and comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities.
Radisson Blu Astrid, Antwerp 5 November 2026 - 1 night Modern, four-star hotel in an ideal location opposite Antwerp Central Station and near Astrid Square. The hotel, designed by architect Michael Graves, offers views of the area’s stunning 19th-century architecture. Comfortable bedrooms designed by architect Alex Kravetz with all modern amenities.
Van der Valk Hotel, Haarlem 6 November 2026 - 2 nights Modern, well-appointed hotel located on the edge of the charming Dutch city of Haarlem. Facilities at this contemporary hotel include bar, restaurant, sauna, steam room and comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities.
Included in the price
• Executive coach travel throughout
• Return ferry crossings Dover Calais
• One night at Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, Antwerp (dinner, bed & breakfast)
• Two nights at Van der Valk Hotel Haarlem (dinner, bed & breakfast)
• Light lunch included during visit to Gaviolizaal Helmond
• Visits to private collections and organ workshops as outlined Not included
• Evening visit to Draaiorgelmuseum Haarlem
Not included
• Sole Occupancy Supplement: £335 per person
• Personal expenses
• Drinks with meals (unless stated)
• Optional taxi returns from Draaiorgelmuseum Haarlem • Travel insurance
• Executive coach travel throughout
• Return ferry crossings Dover Calais
• One night at Radisson Blu Astrid Hotel, Antwerp (dinner, bed & breakfast)
• Two nights at Van der Valk Hotel Haarlem (dinner, bed & breakfast)
• Light lunch included during visit to Gaviolizaal Helmond
• Visits to private collections and organ workshops as outlined Not included
• Evening visit to Draaiorgelmuseum Haarlem
Not included
• Sole Occupancy Supplement: £335 per person
• Personal expenses
• Drinks with meals (unless stated)
• Optional taxi returns from Draaiorgelmuseum Haarlem • Travel insurance
This holiday is operated by Travel Editions Group Travel.
To book please phone Travel Editions on 020 7251 0045
An initial deposit of £200 per person will be required by 29th May 2026 to secure your place.
Payment may be made by credit card, bank transfer or cheque (cheques made payable to Travel Editions Group Ltd) Price based on 30 passengers travelling.
To book please phone Travel Editions on 020 7251 0045
An initial deposit of £200 per person will be required by 29th May 2026 to secure your place.
Payment may be made by credit card, bank transfer or cheque (cheques made payable to Travel Editions Group Ltd) Price based on 30 passengers travelling.