Dieter Plinke, a Berlin resident, has collected 600 accordions—a lifelong project. They are linked to memories from a wide variety of countries, generations, and Berlin neighborhoods.
Image gallery
600 Akkordeons
Through its project “600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin,” the Berlin State Music Council aims to showcase this unique accordion collection and make it accessible to all Berliners during the “Year of the Accordion.”
In cooperation with the Berlin-Brandenburg Retail Association (HBB), six Berlin shopping centers are providing dedicated spaces for a citywide exhibition.
The second stop is the Rathaus-Center Pankow.
The exhibition focuses on:
Instruments from East Germany & the Hohner series
The exhibition is accompanied by a varied program of events featuring workshops, hands-on activities, guided tours, and concerts for the whole family:
Mon., July 13
4:00 p.m.
Exhibition opening
Tue., July 14
2:30–4:00 p.m.
Workshop: “Making an Accordion—The Three Parts of the Accordion”
Wed., July 15
12:00–1:45 p.m.
Listen & Play Along – Mini-Concert & Learn to Play the Accordion
3:00–3:45 p.m.
The Akkordeonauten Ensemble from the Fröhlich Music School Introduces Itself
Thu, July 16
3:00–4:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Play the Instrument of the Year—the Accordion!”
5:00–6:30 p.m.
Introductory Accordion Concerts for Families
Sat., July 18
1:30–3:00 p.m.
Workshop: “Try the Accordion—for Families with Children Ages 6 and Up!”
3:00–5:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Accordion for EVERYONE!”
Mon., July 20
Exploring the Exhibition – Guided Tour
3:00–3:30 p.m.
3:30–4:00 p.m.
Tue., July 21
Workshop: “How Does Air Work? Building Instruments for Everyone”
2:30–3:15 p.m.
3:15–4:00 p.m.
Wed., July 22
Workshop: “How Does Air Work? Building Instruments for Everyone”
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
12:15–1:00 p.m.
Thu, July 23
3:00–5:30 p.m.
"Accordion for EVERYONE!" Workshop
5:30–7:00 p.m.
Listen & Play Along – Mini-Concert & Learn to Play the Accordion
Sat., July 25
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Workshop: “Try the Accordion—for Families with Children Ages 6 and Up!”
1:00–2:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Play the Instrument of the Year—the Accordion!”
Mon., July 27
Exploring the Exhibition – Guided Tour
3:00–3:30 p.m.
3:30–4:00 p.m.
Tue, July 28
Workshop: “How Does Air Work? – Instrument Building for Everyone”
2:30–3:15 p.m.
3:15–4:00 p.m.
Wed., July 29
Workshop: “How Does Air Work? Building Instruments for Everyone”
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
12:15–1:00 p.m.
Thu, July 30
3:00–4:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Play the Instrument of the Year—the Accordion!”
Sat., Aug. 1
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Workshop: “Try Out the Accordion for Families with Children Ages 6 and Up!”
1:00–2:30 p.m.
Workshop: “Accordion for EVERYONE!”
The program is being updated regularly!
You can find the latest information >>here.
The exhibition “600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin” will be on display in a room on the first floor, diagonally across from an ice cream parlor.
The exhibition will be open to the public from July 14 to August 1, 2026, during the following hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Admission is free!
The project “600 Accordions. Your Stories. Our Berlin” is funded by the Lotto Foundation Berlin. The statutory tasks of the Berlin State Music Council are funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.
The project is also supported by numerous partners, including the Berlin-Brandenburg Trade Association, the German Harmonica Association – Berlin Regional Chapter, the German Accordion Teachers’ Association, and zapf umzüge AG.
- The next stop for the traveling exhibition and its accompanying program is the Forum Steglitz, Monday, August 10 – Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Additional information
Accessibility
The Rathaus-Center Pankow is fully accessible. Located at Breite Straße 20a, the shopping center features elevators serving all three shopping levels, parking spaces for people with disabilities, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and accessible services. The adjacent medical center and the therapy center within the complex are also fully accessible.
