Have you ever heard a music box? A barrel organ is like a big music box. Instead of being small enough to fit in your hand, it's as big as a cabinet or closet and makes music by turning a big handle. At the Barrel Organ Museum in Haarlem, there are many of these big music boxes to see and hear!
The machines work by having music on punched paper strips that are fed through the machine. When the strip passes over a certain part of the machine, it makes a noise that combines with the other parts to create a song.
The museum has lots of different kinds of barrel organs, from simple ones with a few notes, to big fancy ones with lots of instruments that play together. They use different kinds of metal pipes or wooden whistles to create different sounds.
The museum isn't just for looking and listening, though. You can also learn about the history of barrel organs and how they were used to entertain people long ago. There are even workshops where you can try playing some of the organs yourself!
So if you like music and you're curious about how big music boxes work, the Barrel Organ Museum in Haarlem is a great place to visit. Just remember to listen carefully and have fun!