Antoine Joseph Sax was born, better known as Adolphe Sax. On the bridge over the Meuse, artistic saxophones remind the visitor of Dinant's relationship with the instrument. La Maison de Monsieur Sax, the house of mister Sax, is now located on the place where his birth house stood. Here the visitor is taken on a journey through the life and work of the famous inventor.
Adolphe moved to Brussels at a young age. Here he followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a well-known instrument builder - he was even the purveyor of brass wind instruments to King Willem I of the Netherlands. As is known, the young Sax also caused a furore. Especially in Paris, where for a time he had a monopoly on the instruments of the French army. Despite his successes, his life was not easy. Competition, revolution and wars made it very difficult. The inventor would die poor and destitute.
After the saxophone, an acoustic instrument has never been invented that would have more impact on music. The great advance of the saxophone only started after the death of inventor Adolphe. In the early 20th century, black musicians in the American South discovered the instrument's unique capabilities. The rest is history.