‘What shall we do with the organ?’ Report of a symposium on Dutch organ culture

On July 5 2025, Wageningen celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Flentrop organ with concerts and a symposium. Dutch organs are technically excellent, but usage is declining sharply due to church closures and secularization, threatening their preservation.

A sustainable organ culture requires new, secular functions, cooperation between heritage organizations, musicians, and government, and innovative education. There exists tension between artistic integrity and audience reach, where contemporary communication plays an important role. Attracting young organists is also crucial to keeping the organ alive and relevant.