NETHERLANDS - PAÍSES BAJOS
Radio Oranje
One of the very unusual and unique radio stamps was issued by the Dutch Post Office to commemorate Radio Oranje (Radio Orange), which was a programme compiled and presented by the Dutch Government in exile and broadcast over BBC transmitters during the Second World War. The broadcasting service in Netherlands went into Nazi control when the country capitulated in May 1940. The first broadcast of Radio Oranje took place on 28 July 1940 via the BBC on 200 kHz (1500 m - 150 kW) and 804 kHz (373 m - 70 kW). The first transmission started with a speech of queen Wilhelmina. The Nazi occupying power forbade listening to foreign radio stations and the transmissions of Radio Oranje were jammed.
The two stamps are unusual as they are printed side by side on each sheet. One of the stamps shows a singer "Jetje of Orange" who sang resistance songs. The other stamp shows a man illegally listening to the broadcasts using a home made radio receiver hidden under the floor of a house. The text on the stamps is from the opening announcement giving the wavelengths and greeting sent to Dutch listeners around the world.
There were some first day covers issued which showed the Radio Oranje banners from the original rubber stamp used in London on official correspondence. These covers are now considered collectors items. After the war many of the broadcasters with Radio Oranje were involved in the foundation of Radio Netherlands.
Date of issue: 5 May 1993 Fecha de emisión: 5/5 1993 First Day Cover More information in Dutch
The two stamps are unusual as they are printed side by side on each sheet. One of the stamps shows a singer "Jetje of Orange" who sang resistance songs. The other stamp shows a man illegally listening to the broadcasts using a home made radio receiver hidden under the floor of a house. The text on the stamps is from the opening announcement giving the wavelengths and greeting sent to Dutch listeners around the world.
There were some first day covers issued which showed the Radio Oranje banners from the original rubber stamp used in London on official correspondence. These covers are now considered collectors items. After the war many of the broadcasters with Radio Oranje were involved in the foundation of Radio Netherlands.
Date of issue: 5 May 1993 Fecha de emisión: 5/5 1993 First Day Cover More information in Dutch