Transmission circle - Kootwijk

To be able to connect with the Dutch East Indies, as much as 12,000 kilometres away from here, over longwave, a flat terrain was needed, with as little disturbance as possible. The most suitable terrain proved to be the Veluwe. A transmission circle, 1200 metres in diameter, was cleared of trees and 150 unemployed men from Amsterdam were brought in to level the terrain.

Pylons were erected, 212 metres high with antenna wires 450 metres long. Copper strips were inserted into the ground for ground earthing and signal transmission. In this way, radio waves were generated and transmitted through the transmitting station. Soon this technique became obsolete and shortwave made its appearance. The large antennas became obsolete and were replaced by the much smaller shortwave boxes.

With the advent of satellite, shortwave also became obsolete. In 1998, the last messages (from Scheveningen Radio) were transmitted in the transmitting station and the (now) KPN closed the doors of the complex for the last time. Since then, the site and complex have been owned by the Forestry Commission. They bought the complex, in 2006 from KPN, for the symbolic amount of 1.00 euros, promising to manage the historically important site and guarantee its preservation.

The transmission circle remains intact because it too is of historical value. You can see that the tree line still runs in a wide circle around the site. Part of it has been returned to nature. The few trees that grow there are solitary and that makes them look very different from the same trees outside the sending circle.

In the grounds, near the main building, you will find unusual mosses and a large white bowl. The bowl is filled with drinking water for the many animals in the area. Most of the time, the bowl fills by itself, with water from dew and rain. But when the bowl is in danger of becoming empty, it is filled by Forestry Commission staff.