He undertook study travel with Gerhard Brunzema [de], who had also been an apprentice of Ott, to European organ builders, Metzler Orgelbau in Switzerland, Flentrop in the Netherlands and Marcussen & Søn in Denmark.

[1][2][3] They produced 54 new organs and restored 19, until Brunzema left the firm in 1972[1] to work in Canada.

[2][3] When they built a new organ in Baroque style for the Zorgvlietkerk in Scheveningen in 1958, they received international recognition.

In the restored church, Ahrend used the historic pipes in a new case to revive the sound he had in mind.

Jürgen Ahrend became involved in the organ festival Orgelfrühling in Krummhörn from its beginning.