REM Island
REM eiland was a nine kilometers off the coast of Noordwijk, The Netherlands, lying platform that served as the base for a pirate radio station. The Reclame Explotatie Maatschappij ( " Society for the use of advertising") radiated from there, the Dutch radio programs and TV Noordzee Noordzee from.
History
Construction
End of 1963, the Dutch newspaper publisher Will Hordijk together with Cornelis Verolme, owner of the Dutch shipbuilding group in Verolme Verenigde Scheepswerven ( VVSW ), and Pieter Heerema, owner of a manufacturer of drilling rigs, the company Reclame Explotatie Maatschappij ( REM) and announced the establishment of a private, financed by advertising on radio and television. Dutch law did not allow for the time to such a commercial station, so the station was to be built outside territorial waters. Such " pirate radio stations " already existed (such as Radio Veronica ), but sent from ships. But to protect against the waves of REM transmitter should be an oil rig similar to a person standing on the seabed steel platform.
The platform was in Verolmes yard in Cork, Ireland, built and transported from Heeremas special vessel "Global Adventurer " in pieces in front of the coast of Noordwijk, where she arrived on 3 May 1964 and was mounted in the connector. On June 5, the construction of a total of 9 million guilders ( about 4 million euros ) was completed expensive system with work spaces and accommodations on two floors for 25 employees, a helipad and a 60-meter antenna.
The first radio test signal was broadcast on 29 July 1964, the first test image on August 12. Three days later, the regular operation of TV Noordzee began with a documentary about the construction of REM eiland. Following the first commercial Dutch television history aired. Radio and TV stations took turns - Radio Noordzee sent 9-18 clock, then followed Noordzee TV.
Although for the reception of TV Nordzee special antennas were needed, the station quickly became popular. In October, about two million viewers watched the program, which showed mainly American entertainment shows like Mr. Ed, Rin Tin Tin or Mister Magoo.
End of the transmit operation and further use
REM eiland was located about 10 km off the coast and thus outside the Dutch territorial waters. Because the platform, however, was fixed on the continental shelf, was found for the Dutch government a way to combat the pirate radio station. Thus came into effect on December 12, 1964 a law in force, which expanded the state border on the base to 11.5 mi - REM eiland now was on Dutch territory. On 17 December, the Royal Netherlands Navy cleared the platform, the transmission has ceased operations. Shortly before REM eiland was sold to a Panamanian company, also founded the operator of TV and Radio Noordzee legal and still exists today " s Televisie Radio Omroep Stichting " ( TROS ).
In 1974, the state used the artificial island as a measuring station. 2004, the measurement mode is set, the platform should be sold. However, since no buyer, the platform was finally dismantled in June 2006 and brought ashore. 2008 bought the housing association " De Key" REM eiland and plans for 2011, the reconstruction of a residential area in Amsterdam Houthaven. The new REM eiland will include a museum and a restaurant.
REM eiland in the media
The television film Trimmel and tulips thief from the series scene in 1976 largely turned on REM eiland. The authors Friedhelm Werre Meier and Peter Schulze-Rohr had discovered the artificial island years ago and wrote about it a criminal matter. The authorization granted by the original owners permission to shoot, however, was made redundant by the acquisition by the Dutch State, the government dismissed the film project but returned. The NDR then won the Dutch station TROS as co-producers, and after the fact even relaxing a parliamentary debate on the film permit, the government finally granted a two-year delay such. For the rotation the now renovated island was again trimmed " to old ".