Radio Antwerpen
Frequencies : 1492 kHz and 7.600 kHz
Location : On board the mv Uilenspiegel, anchored in international
waters off Zeebrugge, Belgium.
Hours of transmission : 07.00 am to midnight
In 1922 Georges de Caluwé, an Antwerp radio engineer, received a
license to set up a small commercial radio station. The aerial was
placed on a church tower and the 'Call ON4ED' became popularly known as
Radio Kerkske (Little Church). The real name in fact was 'Radio
Antwerpen';
With the German army approaching Antwerp in May 1940 the transmitter
was destroyed by its owner to prevent itbeing found incase it should be used to make
German propaganda broadcasts. When the invaders retreated at the
close of war, the station resumed broadcasting with a new
transmitter. However when the Belgian Government returned from exile
in London, it was decided that all radio stations would be state
controlled, and despite protests from listeners, the station was closed down and the equipment
confisticated.
Georges de Caluwé fought to regain his licence, however his efforts
were in vain.
With the success of offshore broadcasting in Denmark and Sweden, the
now 73 year old de Caluwé, decided to bring back his beloved station
from on board a ship.
A 70 foot, 585 ton, concrete built (!) ex French Navy supply vessel
named 'the Crocodile', was purchased for a reported 40.000 pound.
Re-registered in Panama under the name 'Uilenspiegel' after a
legendary Flemish hero, the ship was fitted out with broadcasting
equipment in Antwerp harbour.
A 10 kW transmitter was one of the items fitted on board. On land two
studios to record programmes were set up in Edegem (near Antwerp).
The tender was named 'Nele' after the hero's wife.
After some problems the ship left harbour and anchored off Zeebrugge.
Mid October 1962 'Radio Antwerpen' started its programmes. All were
in Flemish (which is almost the same as Dutch), except for a daily
show in French. 'Il y a de la musique'. The response to all
programmes was overwhelming. As well as popular music there were
programmes of classical music and opera. At noon, each day, there
was a request show, 'Groetjes van Uilenspiegel' (greetings from night
owl). Georges De Caluwé was usually on board the ship and spent the
last five minutes of the show chatting to his listeners.
One day he proudly announced that transmissions could be heard on 7.600 kHz,
in the 41 metre Short Wave band. Reception reports for this outlet
were received from as far away as Canada.
The official Belgian station BRT, in response to the success extended
their hours to midnight.
As with most offshore stations, there were some teething troubles and
for some days interference was caused on the whole of the medium wave
along the Belgian coast. In November 1962 the station put out a
distress call during a storm and then left the air. The aerial had
blown down, but this was repaired and transmission's resumed.
Georges De Caluwé didn't enjoy the success of his station very long
as he died December 13th 1962 in Antwerp, following an operation.
December 18th 1962, the Belgian Parliament passed a Marine Offences Act to seize
'Radio Antwerpen'.
But even more things went wrong that very same week.
During the early hours of December 16th 1962 the crew was woken by strong winds and heavy seas. They found that part of the ship was flooded and the
transmitters damaged. Shortly after noon they noticed they were also
adrift. At 1.12 pm the coast guard radio 'Radio Oostende' transmitted
the folowing message : 'Following received from train ferry 'Suffolk
Ferry' : Radio vessel moored six miles NE by N from mole end,
Zeebrugge is in need of assistance'. Two minutes later the Suffolk
Ferry sent out an SOS : 'Radio station is sinking and requires
lifeboat assistance'. One hour later a lifeboat, 'The burgemeester
Vandamme' came alongside the stricken vessel. All that time the ferry had
stayed as close as possible.
Another tug arrived and by 3.30 pm the Uilenspiegel was a mile from
Zeebrugge, six crew members had been taken off. One of the lifeboatmen
was caught between two vessels and badly injured. Some time later he
died.
The tug started to tow the radioship towards Vlissingen in the
Netherlands with four crewmembers still on board. When a mile off Knokke
the lifeboat made an attempt, unsuccessfully, to rescue them. Because of engine
trouble the lifeboat returned to port. The tug continued her tow towards
Vlissingen but the tow rope parted and after the four remaining crew
members had been taken aboard, the Uilenspiegel ran aground just a few metres
inside the Dutch border at Cadzand. The wreck gradually sank into the
sands and was blown up in 1971 as it was considered a safety hazard.
This Historical look at Radio Antwerpen was researched and compiled by "RadioVisie/Jean-Luc Bostyn." in Belgium.
Do you remember those 'Golden' days of Offshore radio? If you wish to add anything
to these pages then please
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