Building A Radio Kootwijk — Attraction in Apeldoorn

In 2002, the Radio Kootwijk building in the Netherlands was used as the primary location for the movie Mindhunters, starring amongst others, Kathryn Morris, Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, LL Cool J and Patricia Velasquez.

The former radio station “Radio Kootwijk” is situated in the heart of the “Veluwe” centred in a wonderful natural reserve area. It is a unique establishment that is highly valued for its typical blend of scenery with cultural-historical and industrial-historical characteristics.

During WWI, an independent radio link with the Dutch Indies (former Indonesia) became increasingly important. For example all messages via the sea cable, were censured by the British during the war. The obtain independence in these communications, a large transmitter station was built in 1917, in the Malabar Gorge near Bandung on the island of Java. For the Dutch counterpart of this radio link, a suitable location was found on the sand dunes near the village of Kootwijk. Architect Luthmann made a complete design for this establishment. In 1920 the construction started for the actual transmitter building, which is entirely constructed from armoured concrete, a novelty in those days.

It is at the same time, in the early 1920’s, that the actual village “Radio Kootwijk” developed, involving a hotel, administrative buildings and some 40 residential houses for employees. At the present day this unique village with its 120 inhabitants looks back at a history of about 85 years.

The State owned Postal and Telegraph company (PTT) began utilising Radio Kootwijk in 1923 for long wave telegraph transmissions. The equipment was installed in Building A, which is also dubbed as “The Cathedral”. Within about five years, short wave radio signals were used for these transmissions because these were less vulnerable to atmospheric noise. The first actual radio communication with the Dutch Indies, started in 1928, with the historical words: “Hello Bandung, here Kootwijk”. These historical words. are still iconic for many Dutchmen nowadays.

After WWII, the gradually improving quality of sea cable connections saw a decline in the role of Radio Kootwijk as cornerstone for intercontinental telephone and telegraph communications. From 1970, Radio Kootwijk supported maritime communications for the “Radio Scheveningen” station, in particular for long-distance communication with vessels at large. Because of later technological developments such as satellite communication, Radio Kootwijk further lost its significance. Transmission stopped entirely in 1998.

In the mean time the state owned PTT-company had been privatised to the new KPN-company. In 1995 KPN sold the residential houses to the tenants as they wished, or otherwise to a private Real Estate management company. At the end of 2003, the entire area and remaining buildings were sold to the Dutch State and Radio Kootwijk permanently lost its capability for radio transmissions.

Most of the inhabitants of this unique village now, have an intimate relationship with its history and highly appreciate the quality of life it presents. There are concerns about the increasing number of visitors to the area as well as about the present-day ad hoc management of the remaining facilities.

Since recently, there is a “Plan of Attack” with a “Road to Restructuring” towards a new form of exploitation of the facilities at...

Both the building and it's location are absolutely unique, one of a kind. No other building has the same kind of energy and vibration that this one has, to my humble opinion. A true 1920's era gem of architecture in "art deco" style by amsterdam school architect mr. Luthmann. The entire site of the former radio transmitter station is in immaculate condition, being preserved by the state forest conserve. Also known as "The Spinx of the Veluwe" or the "Veluwe Cathedral", it stands proud of its heritage. Imagine over 400kW of hf power and communications exceeding a direct line range of 11.000 km. An array of antenna masts, some of which (so called Long Gerrit) reaching into the sky...

Incredibly disappointing experience.

The website said that it was open, but it was not. Staatsbosbeheer and Radio Kootwijk both have a website for Radio Kootwijk but with different opening times on each. Thus you have no idea when it will actually be open.

There was a Staatsbosbeheer tourgide who when we wanted to ask him a question just shut the door litteraly in everyone’s faces. Incredibly rude!

We were there with and older gentleman who can not walk well. Can you imagine the disappointment when after struggling to walk the 10 minutes from the parking area only to find the place closed and the only official person there so rude that they refused...