Ypma

Dutch family of organbuilders. Dirk Sjoerds Ypma (1813-after 1844) worked as an apprentice for Willem van Gruisen (1788-1834); he started his own business in Bolsward, Frisia (after 1834). Initially, his organs had technical problems, but by 1841 he had enough authority to be asked to judge the work of a colleague. In 1843, he and his brother Lodewijk Sjoerds Ypma (1823-1887) moved to Alkmaar, while a third brother, Eeltje Sjoerds Ypma (1819-1893), continued the Bolsward workshop. The main reason for the Ypmas' move to Alkmaar may have been their Roman Catholic background, which may have prevented their getting much trade in Protestant West Frisia. In 1843-44, Dirk restored the Hagerbeer/F. C. Schnitger organ at Alkmaar, Grote St. Laurenskerk. After the restoration of the diocesan hierarchy in the Netherlands in 1853, many new churches were built, providing an important boost for the firm. Under Lodewijk's leadership, Ypma became the most important Roman Catholic organ builder in the North Holland province; between 1854 and 1887, the firm built around thirty-two organs.