Museum
Pianola Museum
A charming Jordaan museum of self-playing pianos and piano rolls.
Photo: anthony C / Google
- Area
- Jordaan
- Type
- Museum
About the experience
Tucked away in the Jordaan, the Pianola Museum is one of Amsterdam's smallest and most charming museums — devoted entirely to the pianola, the self-playing piano that was all the rage in the late 1800s and early 1900s. These instruments almost play themselves, reading music from long rolls of perforated paper.
The museum holds around fifty player pianos and related instruments (a dozen or so on display at a time), along with an archive of tens of thousands of music rolls.
What you'll see
Visits are built around a guided tour and live demonstration — the enthusiastic curator brings the instruments to life, explaining how they work and playing music from a century ago. The archive of perforated rolls is enormous, and some pieces were composed specially for the pianola, designed to be impossible to play with just ten human fingers. Regular concerts feature everything from Mozart to ragtime and jazz.
Good to know
It's small, quirky and a lovely rainy-day find. Opening hours are limited — mainly weekend afternoons — so check ahead, and look out for the concert programme if you'd like to hear the instruments in full flight.
The museum occupies a former police station, an unexpected setting for a collection rooted in domestic entertainment. Player pianos belong to the history of music-making at home, when a piano could be both a musical instrument and a piece of living-room furniture. Their appeal was not simply automatic playback: on many models, the person operating the pedals could influence the tempo and expression, shaping the performance rather than just listening to it.
Pair your visit with a walk through the surrounding Jordaan rather than heading straight back towards the city centre. Nearby Westerstraat and Noordermarkt offer a natural starting point for exploring the neighbourhood's streets, cafés and independent shops. From there, wander towards the Brouwersgracht for canal views, or follow the Prinsengracht towards the Westerkerk. The contrast between the museum's specialised subject and the everyday life outside makes this a rewarding stop on a leisurely neighbourhood walk.
Photo gallery
Photo: Stephanie Benz / Google · Photo: Widy Widmaer / Google · Photo: Julia / Google · Photo: Marcos Rodrigues / Google · Photo: Jos Beijerman / Google
Tips from locals
Time your visit for the guided demonstration — hearing the instruments played is the whole point.
Opening hours are limited, mostly weekend afternoons, so check before you go.
Look at the concert programme — regular recitals range from Mozart to ragtime and jazz.
It's a great rainy-day option and a quiet contrast to the busier Jordaan sights.
Combine it with a Jordaan stroll; it's not far from the Noordermarkt and Anne Frank House.
Did you know?
The museum holds around fifty self-playing pianos and tens of thousands of paper music rolls.
Pianolas read music from long rolls of perforated paper, much like early computer punch cards.
Some composers wrote pieces specially for the pianola, impossible to play with only ten fingers.
It's one of the smallest museums in Amsterdam, hidden in the Jordaan.
The building was once a police station.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pianola Museum?
A small Jordaan museum devoted to self-playing pianos and their paper music rolls.
Where is it?
At Westerstraat 106 in the Jordaan.
What happens on a visit?
A guided tour with live demonstrations of the instruments by the curator.
Are there concerts?
Yes — regular concerts on the player pianos, from classical to jazz.
When is it open?
Opening hours are limited, mainly weekend afternoons, so check ahead.
Pianola Museum, Amsterdam
Westerstraat 106, 1015 MN, Amsterdam