Organ Grinder Championship returns to Diest on September 7

Diest (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Organ Grinder Championship returns to Diest, Flemish Brabant, on September 7th, 2025, featuring performances, an antique market, free museum access, and a 4,000-candle display. Alderman De Dobbeleer highlights Diest’s commitment to tradition and music.

The Organ Grinder Championship is coming back to Flemish Brabant.  The city of Diest will host the event. The event will be in Diest on September 7th, 2025.  Officials mentioned that many talented organ grinders will play in different parts of the city.  The streets will be filled with the sound of old-fashioned music.

Will Diest’s Organ Grinder Championship blend tradition and culture?

A group of experts will judge the organ grinders.  They will look at how well each person plays and what kind of music they play.  They will also check the condition of the organ.  A well-kept organ makes for a better performance.  The judges will also look at how the organ and the person look.  Officials mentioned that this is important because organ grinding is a traditional art form.  

The Organ Grinder Championship will bring music to Diest, but it’s also part of a bigger cultural event.  According to the officials, the organs will be set up along a special walking path.  This path will take people through the oldest parts of Diest, so they can enjoy the music and the city’s history. 

The city is also planning other activities. There will be an antique market where people can buy old things. All the museums in Diest will be free to visit.  The event will end with a beautiful display in the Beguinage.  4,000 candles will be lit.  Alderman De Dobbeleer is proud to bring this event to Diest. 

Diest has many music events. The cultural centre, CC Den Amer, has a lot of music programs.   According to the officials, one of the city’s biggest modern music events is Summer Jam.  It’s an outdoor festival in Warandepark. The championship started in 2004 in Eizeringen.  It has been in different places since then.  The last one was in Brasschaat.