Nederland - Radio Kootwijk, De Kathedraal

After World War I the Netherlands decided to set up their own international communication network. This enabled a permanent connection with the Dutch East Indies. A search was made for an uninhabited, remote area for placing a broadcasting station. This was found in the Veluwe, where 450 hectares of land was purchased from Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch State Forest Commission).

About 150 labourers from Amsterdam levelled the terrain. The antenna terrain was constructed as a circular plain with a diameter of approximately 1.200 meters, a ring of five 212 meters high masts around a central mast at the foot of the transmitter building. The radio transmission centre was officially put into operation in May 1923, initially for Morse telegraph traffic.

Not only buildings were built for the broadcasting system, but also houses, workshops and a water tower were erected. The entire village was named after its function: Radio Kootwijk. In the late 1920s, around 200 people lived in Radio Kootwijk. The village was remote and there was no regular bus connection with villages in the area. That is why the community arranged a school bus, a market bus, a football bus and even a church bus on Sundays. The village also had its own fire brigade, garbage collection service, electricity and water via the water tower and pumps.

The architect of the main building - officially called “Building A”, but well known by its nickname “De Kathedraal” - was architect Julius Luthmann, who worked for the Dutch Government Building Agency. The building could, for example, not be built in wood because of the fire hazard of overheating due to radiation from the transmitters. The sending station therefore consists of reinforced concrete, in the form of a sphinx (the architect was interested in Egyptian mythology). The style from which it is executed is a mixture of German expressionism and the Amsterdam School, with some Scandinavian influence. Luthmann worked with the sculptor Hendrik van den Eijnde for the decoration.

As of 1962 the transmitter station provided long-distance connections for the maritime industry from the Netherlands. In 1998 the station finally closed it doors. The buildings and corresponding terrain went back to the hands of the Dutch State Forest Commission. Nowadays it is used as venue and scenery for several cultural events and productions. Visitors are welcome on certain days.