Remembering the 1953 floods
Since February 2013, radio amateurs from Zeeland have been actively present during the open day at the Flood Museum, remembering the floods of 1953 in the south-west part of the Netherlands.
Edition 2025 with PA72ZRK
For many years we have been guests as radio amateurs at the annual open day of the Flood museum in Ouwerkerk. We then talk about the role of radio amateurs in 1953 and of course immediately make the link to emergency communication in the present day with the regional DRCO organization.
Every year, around 1800 visitors come to the open day and experience shows that there are still people who lost family in the flood disaster but do not know the story of the communication.
In addition to some original equipment from the 1950s, in recent years we have also been able to show and hear a working station from that time (in telephony – AM on “channel 3700” and also in telegraphy – CW). We also always have a morse key on which children can signal their own name.
In 2018, a number of replicas of the famous “bottle transmitter” were built and these will not only be on display but will also be used for 80-metre transmissions.
The “bottle” transmitter
Peter Hossfeld played an important role in informing the rest of the country about the devastating floods, with a selfbuild “bottle” transmitter. The winebottle was used as form for the tankcoil in the transmitter output stage. The original transmitter is displayed in the museum, and replicas are build and used for the special event.
