The story of Radio Kootwijk
Kootwijk, Radio Kootwijk
The story of Radio Kootwijk begins in the heart of the Veluwe, amid vast moorlands, with 150 unemployed people from Amsterdam. With their hands, they levelled the ground, for the arrival of a technological marvel: the radio broadcasting station Radio Kootwijk. This station, which enabled the connection to our then colony of the Dutch East Indies, would change the lives of many. After the construction of the broadcasting station, PTT employees settled in the newly created village. Radio Kootwijk became a small community with a unique character. The men who lived in the Tehuis for single employees formed close bonds due to their shared work and the remote location. The families who came to live in the village also contributed to the strong sense of community. This was not least because of the PTT, which used vans for the children to go to school and for the women to go to the fabric market in Apeldoorn. Life was simple, but the bond between residents was strong. Radio Kootwijk's biggest impact, however, came with the opening of the telephone link to the Dutch East Indies. After the grand opening by Queen Mother Emma in 1923, during which she uttered the legendary words "Hello Bandoeng, can you hear me?", people in the Netherlands could contact relatives on the other side of the world directly. This was a revolutionary feature for the time. For 30 guilders, people could call the Dutch East Indies for three minutes. These phone calls were emotionally charged moments. Family members, who often had not been in direct contact for years, suddenly heard each other's voices over a distance of 12,000 kilometres. The emotions were sometimes so overwhelming that people could not utter a word or even fainted. World War II brought dark days for the residents of Radio Kootwijk. The German occupiers took over the broadcasting station and probably the whole village. The residents' lives changed drastically. The transmitting equipment was used to control the Nazi U-boats. Residents' freedom was severely curtailed. Yet the sense of community remained strong, and many helped each other through this difficult time. Some even dared to sabotage the Germans, despite strict surveillance. There is a monument to the residents of Radio Kootwijk who died in the process. After the war, peace slowly returned to Radio Kootwijk. Technology continued to develop and the world had changed forever. But the memories of the first conversations with the Dutch East Indies, the strong community ties and the determination of the employees always remained. Radio Kootwijk symbolises the connection between people, regardless of distance or circumstances. The story of the people who lived and worked there reflects an era of technological progress and human resilience. It is a story to be cherished, as an important part of our history. This cycle route takes you past the remnants of all these beautiful stories and through the beautiful area where these stories took place. This Premium cycle route has been compiled by our editor: Désirée van Uffelen
| Directions | Distance | Total distance | |
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Start: Molenweg 8, 6732 BL Ede | 43.4 KM | |
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From
25
to
49
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3541 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head south on Molenweg | 227 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Molenweg | 31 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Molenweg | 782 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Molenweg | 1.3 KM | ||
| Continue slightly left onto Maasjessteeg | 661 M | ||
| Turn right onto Harskamperweg | 176 M | ||
| Turn right onto Apeldoornseweg | 44 M | ||
| Make a sharp left onto Harskamperweg | 298 M | ||
| You are now at section 49 | 0 M | ||
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From
49
to
14
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8082 M | 8.1 KM | |
| Head east on Dorpsstraat | 422 M | ||
| Turn left onto Hoenderloseweg | 583 M | ||
| Turn right | 6.7 KM | ||
| Continue onto Apeldoornseweg | 398 M | ||
| Turn left | 5 M | ||
| Continue onto Dabbelosepad | 6 M | ||
| You are now at section 14 | 0 M | ||
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From
14
to
13
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941 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head southwest on Dabbelosepad | 6 M | ||
| Continue straight | 5 M | ||
| Turn left | 85 M | ||
| Turn right onto Harskampweg | 541 M | ||
| Turn right onto Apeldoornseweg | 304 M | ||
| You are now at section 13 | 0 M | ||
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From
13
to
2
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1561 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head east | 11 M | ||
| Continue towards Centrum | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 02 | 0 M | ||
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From
2
to
12
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938 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head east on Krimweg | 924 M | ||
| Turn left | 14 M | ||
| You are now at section 12 | 0 M | ||
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From
12
to
7
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3523 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head north on Waterbergweg | 3.5 KM | ||
| You are now at section 07 | 0 M | ||
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From
7
to
6
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1043 M | 1 KM | |
| Head west on Waterbergweg | 602 M | ||
| Turn right onto Noordweg | 20 M | ||
| Make a slight right | 421 M | ||
| You are now at section 06 | 0 M | ||
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From
6
to
15
|
1642 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head west | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 15 | 0 M | ||
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From
15
to
44
|
3541 M | 3.5 KM | |
| Head north | 1.4 KM | ||
| Make a slight left | 2.1 KM | ||
| You are now at section 44 | 0 M | ||
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From
44
to
41
|
1289 M | 1.3 KM | |
| Head north | 769 M | ||
| Continue onto Alverschotenseweg | 371 M | ||
| Make a slight right to stay on Alverschotenseweg | 149 M | ||
| You are now at section 41 | 0 M | ||
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From
41
to
40
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1675 M | 1.7 KM | |
| Head north on Alverschotenseweg | 20 M | ||
| Turn left onto Turfbergweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| Turn right onto Radioweg | 489 M | ||
| You are now at section 40 | 0 M | ||
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From
40
to
37
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3260 M | 3.3 KM | |
| Head west on Radioweg | 480 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Radioweg | 27 M | ||
| Turn right to stay on Radioweg | 1.8 KM | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Radioweg | 950 M | ||
| You are now at section 37 | 0 M | ||
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From
37
to
36
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1642 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head southwest on Asselseweg | 4 M | ||
| Turn right | 1.6 KM | ||
| You are now at section 36 | 0 M | ||
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From
36
to
81
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1551 M | 1.6 KM | |
| Head west | 19 M | ||
| Turn left | 15 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Nieuw Milligenseweg | 312 M | ||
| Make a slight right onto Boveneindseweg | 44 M | ||
| Keep left onto Boveneindseweg | 1.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 81 | 0 M | ||
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From
81
to
71
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4448 M | 4.4 KM | |
| Head southeast on Boveneindseweg | 131 M | ||
| Continue onto Kootwijkerdijk | 240 M | ||
| Turn right onto Heetweg | 626 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Noorderheideweg | 1.3 KM | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Noorderheideweg | 2.2 KM | ||
| You are now at section 71 | 0 M | ||
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From
71
to
70
|
932 M | 0.9 KM | |
| Head west on Hoog Buurloseweg | 932 M | ||
| You are now at section 70 | 0 M | ||
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From
70
to
73
|
738 M | 0.7 KM | |
| Head south on Houtvester van 't Hoffweg | 7 M | ||
| Turn right onto Hoog Buurloseweg | 731 M | ||
| You are now at section 73 | 0 M | ||
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From
73
to
25
|
3020 M | 3 KM | |
| Head south on Verlengde Stroe Allee | 459 M | ||
| Make a slight left onto Kraatsweg | 56 M | ||
| Turn left to stay on Kraatsweg | 1.5 KM | ||
| Turn left onto Kraatsweg | 123 M | ||
| Turn right onto Dorpsstraat (N310) | 213 M | ||
| Turn right onto Edeseweg | 177 M | ||
| Turn left onto Julianastraat | 67 M | ||
| Turn right onto Molenweg | 36 M | ||
| Make a slight left to stay on Molenweg | 400 M | ||
| You are now at section 25 | 0 M |