![]() At the end of the twenties, about 200 people lived in Radio Kootwijk, a mixed and close-knit community in this isolated enclave of the Veluwe. Some of the staff had to be reached and available day and night so should preferably live near the station. Staff recruitment began during the construction of the transmitter station. In those days the average weekly salary was f 25. Cheap family phone calls, only on Saturdays with 30% discount off the normal rates cost f 21 in those days for a three minute call to Java, for example. ![]() The PTT (state enterprise for Post, Telegraphs and Telephony of the Netherlands) tried to interest the public in overseas phone calls through advertising. Subsequently, people had to pay considerable amounts for a phone call to family members overseas. The first conversations, which invariably concluded with the Dutch national anthem Wilhelmus, were free as it was still in an experimental phase. ![]() Queen Emma brought about the first telephone connection in 1929 with the Dutch East Indies with the legendary words: “Hello Bandoeng Hello Bandoeng! Can you hear me?". 'Kootwijk Radio' was the international call sign for radio traffic. The station initially operated under the name Radio Assel, but also became known under the name Radio Hoog Buurlo. They switched to a short wave frequency for a higher signalling rate, better connections, lower energy consumption and smaller equipment. After a few years it became apparent that the long wave connections were outdated and too expensive. The developments in radio technology advanced rapidly. The radio transmission centre was officially put into operation in May 1923, initially for Morse telegraph traffic. The antenna terrain was constructed as a circular plain with a diameter of approximately 1200 metres, a ring of five 212 metre high masts around a central mast at the foot of the transmitter building. The 450 hectare terrain was bought by the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management from the Dutch National Forestry Commission.Ībout 150 labourers from Amsterdam levelled the terrain. To establish the radio transmitting station they looked for an uninhabited, remote terrain so there would be minimum interference to the transmission traffic from the environment. Radio transmission station and transmitter town After much political debate it was decided to build a long wave transmission station enabling permanent contact with the Dutch East Indies using radio telegraphs. In 1918, the government decided to realise their own international communication network, independent of the neighbouring countries. When the First World War broke out the disadvantages of this dependence increased. Prior to this, the Netherlands was dependent on England and Germany. Direct communication took place by way of electric telegrams, which required cable connections. Its interests were served by a quick connection to the colonies, especially the Dutch East Indies.
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