WELCOME TO THE GOLD OF THE SUN!
AND THE FESTIVE PREMIÉRE IN UTRECHT ON MAY 10, 2025
The Gold of the Sun is a beautiful documentary about the Utrecht artist Rob de Looff who makes music boxes from fallen city trees under the name 'Robin Wood Music Boxes'.
During this atmospheric and musical film about craftsmanship, the audience takes a look into Rob's soul, sees how he works and is taken along in his love for wood.
Rob, endlessly fascinated by the rich history of wood, is inspired to work with this element because of the beauty of trees, which absorb the sun with their photosynthesis. Almost literally, the warmth of the sun is in there. According to him, wood is therefore: “The Gold of the Sun”.
The magical entourage that Rob has built up over the years around his music boxes is tangible for many and resonates daily in thousands of homes around the world.
Each box is an ode to the trees and the birds and is in fact a 'condensed fairytale forest'. The film breathes this sense of wonder like a beautiful interweaving of stories.
The origins, working methods and philosophy of Robin Wood have been beautifully depicted by Vincent van Esch and Alfredo Sirica has enriched it with his sparkling music.
In our opinion, there is no better place to premiere this film than in Museum Speelklok, where the most wonderful music sounds every day from all kinds of mechanical musical instruments. Restorer Friedell Derksen will demonstrate part of the beautiful historical collection of music boxes.
The nave of the former Buurkerk in the heart of the city will be transformed into a real cinema hall and will form the setting for an evening-filling programme.
We sincerely hope that you will join us for this special evening. experience and immerse yourself in The Gold of the Sun!
Shop of
Robin Wood in the Donkerstraat
PROGRAM
19:00 PM Doors open
19:30 pm Welcome & opening
19:45 PM Film screening
20:30 PM Break
21:15 PM Presentation Museum by Curator Friedell Derksen
21:35pm Q&A with Vincent, Rob and Alfredo
22:15 PM End of program
23:00 PM Doors close
Museum shop and cafe are open all evening. The museum collection is also freely accessible.
During the break everyone will be offered a drink and snacks.
Don't forget our fun dress code:)
ODE TO THE TREES, THE BIRDS & THE SUN
Be inspired by the shades of the forest, a colorful bird
and of course the warm shades of the sun!
Also nice: A brooch, jewelry or something else with a tree on it, bird or sun.
Feel free!
TICKETS FOR THE GOLD OF THE SUN
LAST CARDS!!!
If you can no longer order below, we can put you on the waiting list. To do this, send a message via the contact form below. If a spot becomes available, you will be notified.
Each ticket gives access to the entire program and free choice of seats throughout the hall, with the exception of a few reserved seats.
The price difference is purely intended to give everyone a free choice in their contribution to this precious evening.. We invite you to choose a card that suits you. We appreciate every choice! Each card is a building block that makes this evening possible.
Children up to 12 years are welcome for free (volunteers too). You can request children's tickets via the contact form at the bottom of the page. See also the practical information.
Vincent, Rob & Alfredo
WHO ARE THESE CREATIVES? FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM!
The Gold of the Sun is an independent documentary by Vincent van Esch about Rob de Looff. Not an assignment, but his free work and promising debut as a filmmaker. The talented young film composer Alfredo Sirica wrote the original music for the film.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Practical
TICKET INFORMATION
PRICES & SEATING
Each ticket gives access to the entire program and has free seat selection in the entire hall, except for a few reserved places. The price difference is purely and solely intended to give everyone a free choice in their contribution to this valuable evening
YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR TICKETS BY EMAIL
Print out the tickets or download them to your phone because the QR codes will be scanned at the entrance of the museum.
BUY EXTRA TICKETS
At this moment you can buy max 4 tickets. If you want to buy more tickets, visit this page again in early May. Any tickets that are left can be bought while supplies last.
WHAT IF YOU CAN'T COME
If you have received our invitation and already know that you cannot come on May 10th, you can also use this invitation to give one or two tickets as a gift to someone you know would really like this.
CANCEL
Tickets already ordered can be cancelled free of charge until April 10, 2025. The full amount will be refunded. For cancellations after April 10, no refund is possible. If you are unable to attend, please let us know so we can make someone else happy with the available spot.
REQUEST CHILDREN'S TICKETS
Children up to 12 years are welcome for free! Registration is required due to the available seats.
Use the contact form below to request the cards. Please include the name + age of each child.
You will receive a confirmation + the tickets from us by email.
Availability is subject to change (we expect to sell out), but we assume that up to two children per request will not be a problem.
LOCATION & ACCESSIBILITY MUSEUM
Museum Speelklok is located in the heart of Utrecht, within walking distance of Utrecht Central Station.
Address
Steenweg 6
3511 JP Utrecht
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Museum Speelklok is a ten-minute walk from Utrecht Central Station. From the station, you can also take city bus 2 towards Museumkwartier and get off at the Domplein stop. From here, it is a four-minute walk to the museum.
BY CAR OR CARRIAGE
From the Springweg and Hoog Catharijne parking garages (advance reservations possible) you can walk to the museum within ten minutes. Tip: Walk via Donkerstraat, then you will pass the window of Robin Wood! Avoid the crowds in the city center? Then use P+R Utrecht. With a day ticket you can park at one of the P+R locations and travel to the center by public transport. Or reserve your parking space in Utrecht city center in advance online. An evening ticket is available from 12 euros.
BY BIKE, FLUTTER OR ON FOOT
Park your bike near the museum in the free covered bike shed on the Zadelstraat. And walk or flutter via the Donkerstraat past the window of Robin Wood to the Museum! It is also possible to park your bike behind the museum on the Buurkerkhof.
ON HORSE
Yes, you read that right! We have heard that some guests are even planning to come on horseback! That is possible, but please do not bring your horse inside!! You think 'Well, we certainly don't do that'. Make no mistake, this church has seen it all. It was even a stable during the French occupation! There is still a traffic sign inside requesting that cattle not be driven through the church during mass. (The route to the Cattle Market on the adjacent square ran right through it for a while)
BY HELICOPTER.
Landing is possible at Domplein. From there it is about a 5 minute walk.
MUSEUM ACCESSIBILITY
Museum Speelklok is wheelchair accessible. All rooms are on the ground floor or have ramps and there are no thresholds. There are two elevators that can take you to all floors. The film screening is on the ground floor.
For more information visit this page
BUY MUSIC BOXES
Rob's music boxes will also be for sale during this evening!
Some of these can be found in the museum shop. These will mainly be the smaller boxes. The shop is open all evening.
There will also be a separate stand in the museum with an extensive collection of different types of music boxes. Below are some special boxes from special trees (including the Adam Oak from 1619 and the famous Brown Beech from 170 years ago that stood near the Rosarium/Wilhelminapark)
And did you know that Robin Wood's shop is a 1-minute walk from Museum Speelklok? in Donkerstraat at no. 21. It will probably also be open in the afternoon. Subject to change. Check the opening hours in due course here.
The window display is definitely worth seeing, it is always open and also lights up the Donkerstraat at night!
REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER
We could still use some volunteers!
From 17:30 PM: Setting up, distributing program booklets to all seats, etc.
From 19pm:
-Scan tickets and distribute consumption tokens.
-Help with efficiently filling all seats in the hall.
-Sales of CDs & film posters (also during the break and afterwards)
-Selling music boxes (Rob personally asks people for this, but if you want to recommend yourself for this, please do so:) perhaps he will call on you!
– Videographer, Photographer. (Vincent personally asks people for this, but if you want to recommend yourself for this, please send a message!)
-From approximately 22:30 PM: stacking chairs, helping with dismantling, etc.
In addition, we can probably still use some hands during the construction of the technology on Thursday evening, May 8 or Friday evening, May 9.
If you would like to help with one or more of these activities, please let us know via the contact form below. Also state your preference. As a volunteer, you can request a free ticket or receive a refund if already ordered.
This evening is made possible by
Museum Speelklok, Gemeente Utrecht, theCokerije, remote
Organization:
Rob de Looff
rob@robinwoodmusicbox.com
06-11303899
Vincent van Esch
send@eigenbaard.nl
06-13610759
In collaboration with Museum Speelklok.
This documentary by Eigenbaard Filmproducties was made possible with the support of
The Cultural Fund, Voordekunst.nl Crowdfunding
THE FILM WORKED ON BY
Crisow von Schulz – City Wood Amsterdam, Egbert Boerma – Table Tree, Joris Jan Hellevoort – Utrecht Landscape,
Malgosia Fiebig – City Carillonneur of Utrecht,
Theo van Soest – Audio Purus
Original film score by Alfredo Sirica.
Final mixing Johan van der Voet – Soundgram
With special thanks to: Erwin van Esch, Christianne van Esch, Willem van der Rijken, Chico van Dijk, Tanja Dieker, Elianne van Steenis, Bart Segers, Janneke Konings, Boaz Vergeer
CONTACT US
Use this form for
REQUEST CHILDREN'S TICKETS
Fill in your name, email. Subject: 'Children's cards'. Message: Name + age per child.
REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER
See explanation above in the practical information
For other questions you can also use this form. Messages are received by Rob. If you want to reach Vincent directly, his details can be found above.
TO DONATE
If you would like to support this evening with a donation, you are welcome! This will allow us to make the evening even more festive! Our sincere thanks in advance!
If you would like to support the evening as a company, please send us an email.
Rob under an old beech tree in Utrecht
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