Museum Speelklok , Utrecht, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

Museum Speelklok is a museum of self-playing musical instruments in Utrecht, housed inside the medieval Buurkerk, a former parish church in the old centre. Music boxes, musical clocks, pianolas and street organs fill the old church, and it is one of the most enjoyable stops for families in the city.

The story behind it

The Buurkerk, the name means Neighbourhood Church, is one of the oldest medieval churches in Utrecht. It began as a Catholic parish church and was rebuilt more than once over the centuries. During the revolt against Spain in 1577, Dutch fighters are said to have placed cannons in its tower to fire on the Spanish garrison at the nearby Vredenburg castle. After the Reformation the church became Protestant and its decoration and wall paintings were removed.

The church eventually stopped being used for worship, and since 1984 it has been home to Museum Speelklok. The collection grew from a private collection assembled in the 1950s. It now covers hundreds of mechanical instruments, some of them around 400 years old, and the museum runs its own restoration workshop to bring old mechanisms back to life.

What to look for

• Look up as you enter: the high medieval church interior is an unusual setting for delicate clockwork, and the bare walls recall the Reformation clear-out.
• Find the music boxes and musical clocks, whose tiny mechanisms were built to play tunes without anyone touching a key.
• Listen for the large street and dance hall organs, which are often demonstrated live by staff and fill the whole nave with sound.
• Seek out the serinette, a small hand-cranked instrument once used to teach caged canaries to sing melodies.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about one to two hours inside, longer if you join a demonstration or travel with children.
• Go inside: this is a working museum, so check current opening hours and ticket options before you set out.
• The Buurkerk stands in the heart of the old centre, a short walk from the Oudegracht canal and the Dom Tower, so it fits easily into a wider stroll.
• Visit on a grey or rainy day when you want a good indoor stop, then walk the surrounding lanes afterwards.

See it on a quest

Utrecht Monster Mystery Escape Game passes the museum as one stop on a longer route through central Utrecht. You walk there, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start any time.

Utrecht Under Dark Magic: Walking Tour & Escape Game also takes in this part of town. It suits anyone who likes a darker angle on the old streets, with the story of each place told on the spot and a puzzle to crack before you move on. One ticket covers the whole group.