The familiar sound of the Westertoren bells has returned. For a while then. Today, the city’s pianist Boudewijn Zwart sat on a bench behind his trusted organ and ceremoniously rang the bells throughout the city once again. Jordanians can watch this live on a screen in the square below. “We really missed him.”

Although the “Pearl of Jordan” is still under construction, it has attracted a lot of attention today. After renovation, the 50 bells have now been installed, allowing the city bell ringer Boudewijn Zwart to sound music across the city again after a year and a half. Spectators could not only hear the sounds, but also see how he plays the keyboard in the Westertoren.

There was a big screen in the square below the church, broadcasting live. This showed how passionately Boudewijn Zwart played. “We really missed him, and we think his return is very special,” said a local.

Black did not play alone. As usual, he was accompanied by university musician Rainer Sijpkens. He played the miniature church organ and the trumpet – sometimes at the same time. With a few dozen metres between them, Sijpkens and Zwart played a duet. Sijpkens usually plays from his ship, the “de Notendop”, but due to strong winds he moved to the square.

Locals were delighted to hear the familiar sound ringing throughout the city again: “I really like those bells, they belong to Amsterdam, and I hear their tunes again in the Jordan River.”

The bells have been hung again, but we still have to be patient before we can admire Westertoren in all its glory. The church renovation is not expected to be completed until January. From then on, the clock dial will chime again and the bells will ring every fifteen minutes.