Uithuizen

The Arp Schnitger organ in the Jacobi Church in Uithuizen was built at the initiative of Unico Allard, Onno and Willem Alberda van Menkema, together with the minister Joannes Roeringh. In 1699, organ builder Arp Schnitger was commissioned to construct a new organ with 27 stops. During the construction, Schnitger added an extra stop on his own initiative, bringing the total to 28 stops. Most of the work was carried out by his master journeymen, Johannes Radeker and Rudolf Garrels. Completed around 1700–1701, the instrument became the largest village church organ in the Netherlands, with 28 stops.

Over the following centuries, the organ underwent two major modifications. In 1785, the heirs of Hinsz carried out an extensive restoration, during which the keyboards were expanded. Between 1854 and 1856, Petrus van Oeckelen extensively rebuilt the organ, adapting it to the musical tastes of the time by enlarging it and replacing, relocating, and renewing various components.

Following the restoration of the church, the organ itself was also restored. The first phase took place in 1986 under the direction of Bernhardt Edskes, followed by a second phase between 1998 and 2001. The aim was to restore the instrument as closely as possible to its condition after the 1785 restoration. Since its completion in 2001, the organ has been regarded as one of the best-preserved Arp Schnitger organs in the world. Of its 28 stops, 21 remain original.