Well,to call a spade a spade,travelling down the memory lane,it was thanks to Radio Netherlands that I could practice my listening skills in English and if my English stands in good stead the credit goes to this fantabulous station.The station bridged and bounded the world in general and Europe in particular.I profoundly thank all the crew who had been instrumental in this great venture.Yet,quite sad and sorry you have signed off.

Well, goodbye Radio Nederlands and thanks for those wonderful programmes especially the "Happy Station" run by tom Meijers. I listened to it in the '70s with my Radio Shack DX-140 shortwave receiver. I was in Sydney at the time. I actually recorded many of his shows off the air onto cassettes along with all the fading and atmospheric noises. Thank you to all those people it took to get the shows on to the airwaves. I hope that it can re-start in the future when things will no doubt get better.

I have seen loads of useful things on your internet site about computers. However, I've got the impression that netbooks are still less than powerful sufficiently to be a good option if you frequently do jobs that require loads of power, including video editing and enhancing. But for net surfing, word processing, and a lot other frequent computer functions they are just great, provided you do not mind small screen size. Many thanks for sharing your notions.

hello,my friend,how are you

I'm listening to SW broadcast radio since I build my own in 1997,then on commercial once,such as Grunding,RN where one
of them among DW,BBC,radio Australia,New Zeeland etc.I'm very disappointed, so many radio stations are out of the
air,because luck of money or new technology taking over.We SW leasener will miss it,specially if born out of USA.

Very sad to find one of the only truly unbiased and factual news and world event broadcast will no longer be availaible. Spcially to those peoples of the world who suffer under tirany and depended on your broadcast for a view and perspective of the real world, as opposed to them by the propaganda machines of their governments. Also lost is the far reaching and forward thinking human stories that brought both the joy and suffering of humanity from all overthe planet into the sunshine. A very sad day indeed. I've always admired the Dutch people and their government, but even more for their efforts, though RNW, to bring a ray of light about the true nature of humanity to the farthest reaches of the planet. Hopefully, like Paton, you will return someday.

I'm a young woman who lives in a remote rural area. Tuning around lately, I had wondered where Radio Netherlands had gone to... Living sometimes far from cell phones and Internet, my friends and I depend on shortwave for news and connection. Shortwave still embodies a friendlier and warmer conception of media than can be found amongst the vicious polemics and vacuous corporate propaganda now coming to dominate. For that alone, there are many who love and need your services. But such goes double for we who, while ostensibly living in the heart of the global empire, live in a great measure of insecurity and lack of wealth. Who will now make us care about netherlanders as people? Who will speak to poor people, many of whom do not have access to the plastic Internet wonders? I hope the remaining thirty percent of your budget indeed helps people under censorship, because that estate is one I fear we are all coming to know as everything we see and hear becomes carefully strained by digital filters. The government of the Netherlands should be ashamed. Bless you, RNW. I'll miss you.

Today after 1 year i decided to began listening to RNW but as i tuned to RNW station on hotbird sat. i got depressed . i got sorry and sad that my favorite programs are not broadcast any more. i am so sad sad , sad .

I was so saddened the day I learned the RNW was going to discontinue thier English language broadcasts. My father was an avid listener to RNW on short wave when I was growing up and for many years I have had your broadcast running continuously via the internet while I was at my desk at my office. The day just doesnt feel the same with out my team from Hilversum on my computer :( Thanks to all those that put on the shows for so many years, you will be sorely missed.

It's really sad to know. Usually, would catch your programmes (Earthbeat especially) on a FM channel here, and they were usually way behind the broadcast in the Netherlands, but they made for WONDERFUL listening. Hope the podcasts remain archived here on-site, for at least a year. Will miss the whole RNW experience :(

War Horse director Steven Spielberg , who also attended, said it was a 'prestigious honour' to have the new royal couple as special guests at the premiere, which was held in London's Leicester Square in aid of The Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

I like others remember tuning into the Happy Station show with Tom Meijer each week. I also remember listening with equal enjoyment to Dody and Jerry Cowan. Those were the days.

I have been puzzled that RNW has not appeared on any of the frequencies I faithfully listened to these many years! Only today did I discover via the Internet of what your government has done. Not good, not only sad but a serious loss. One of the best international English language news broadcasts, available everywhere and not blockable by countries frightened by democracy. Most who comment seem to accept this decision as fait acompli - but surely something can be done to restore the service? Even BBC has turned to "popular" changes that diminish its reputation - please, someone, make serious objection to your government!! STEVE COLLINS

bring back your english broadcasts we dont do internet radio. Its a sad day when broadcasters like your self give up on your listeners.

As a Radio Netherlands listenerFan from the old but unorgettable days of Tom Meyer's Happy Station in the 70a onward snd, last but not least, as being a broadcast journalist myself and radio presenter myself up to the time I had to quit my job following considerable medical problems. I'd like to express my deepest regrets about the close down of Radio Netherlands in English, n o the highest quality international broadcasters in Europe. I personallythink it a shame your government seems to have undertaken its decision in complete neglect ofthe possibilities of international broadcasting which ersecially in the days of a united Europe has re-gained in importance considerably.I hope that some day you'll be back on the air again.

Speaking as a technical professional who has both watched the evolution of telecom technology and contributed to its changes over decades, and as an RNW listener since the 60's, I can say in retrospect I think the content provided by stations like RNW is not likely to go away for very long.

There is a huge and ever growing challenge of content curation and content dominance in internet media. On the one hand there's just too many voices to ever hope, as a listening individual with a busy life, to even survey them all. And these new voices are mostly unpaid for their efforts online, and thus of unpredictable availability over time. Then on the other hand next to them are increasingly well monied producers of corporate blandness and political and religious polemics. Its a rough time for the middle road.

There's also the matter of whether that content speaks in a healthy way to the cultural tone of its origin, when taken as a whole. Increasingly I think, useful vehicles for achieving this, such as journalistic outlook and training, are giving way to unreflected personal anecdotes and opinions, and the coarsest propaganda and PR releases masquerading as 'news from somewhere'.

Be that all as it may be in all its glory and ugliness, I believe there is still an enduring and valuable audience for they type of content that international cultural radio stations have provided. I believe audiences will to some extent always be drawn to programming which they can look forward to on a regular basis, which is prepared by individuals skilled and experienced in stepping back and finding broader news perspectives and cultural themes without coarse political or corporate manipulation, and which, lets be honest, is entertaining too.

Perhaps the next evolution of the spirit of RNW will be similar to NHK World. Whatever it will be, I don't think the audience is gone, and I don't think the interest and vision of people such as those who built and ran RNW is gone either. Its been a wonderful ride, and I look forward to the new carousel when it opens, complete with pipe organ of course!

I am very sorry to know that RNW has closed. I was an ardent fan of RNW in the 70's. Every evening I used to switch on the shortwave radio station firt to hear the oepning tunes of the Bells which mesmerised me. I was very much attracted by the voice of Tom Meyer. I had received some folders and Photographs of Tome Meyer walking through dense forest or gardens in the mist. It is just a coincidence that today morning I was travelling in a city bus and I had a flashback of memory. I just was thinking of some old Radio Stations and their various programms in the past. Then I remembered about RNW and the starting tunes of the ringing bells. I just opened the internet to know about the RNW station and I am really sorry to know about its closure.

From Jerry and Dotie Cowan on 375 meters medium wave from Bonair to RNW Classical, from PO Box 222 to RNW.NL, no other international broadcaster has kept me coming back for this long. Love that interval tuning signal.

Sorry and sad to see you go, as we have seen many broadcasters go. Heard RNW from the late 70's onwards frequently, had always a great time, it was a station with high journalistic standards compared to MANY other sw-stations. RNW was one of the best.
All the best to all the staff, the hosts and presenters. Thanks for the time you gave your best to highlight the Netherlands, a nice little country we love and come to see again in our vacation in just about two weeks.

Take care you lot.

my words deleted cos can speak netherlands Taal............. sad see u go after 30 yrs, rip peace, Tom Meyer, jonathon Marks, eddie Stark, be toss in grave, u abandon people.

Is sad to know The Netherlands, no long broadcast, been loyal listener on SW since 1982, but since new tech taken over, lots countries , faded away, any you no different, hope Mr E, first host Happy Station not come haunt you, now $$ bean counters, THANKS FOR ALL DONE LAST 30 YRS, PROMOTE NEDERLAND, AND THRU RADIO HOBBY, TOM MEYERS,JONATHON MARKS,ALL WERELD OMROEP MENSE, DANKIE EN, LIVE WELL, SINCE net broadcasts not same,

words cannot say how ORANJE KOONINGHEID MY WERELD JY NO EEN.

its very sad to hear your leaving the airwaves especially since alot of countries need to get info from the outsside world that cant be done via internet or other means, shortwave crosses boundaries unlike any media and its not blocked like that of North Korea which blocks many stations, look at Libya and others, they blocked the internet, probably the same of Syria. But the only way for many of us to learrn whats go on is from Shortwave broadcasts like yours and believe me its heardd world wide.. There are good reasons to stay but the most important is your needed out here..

73 from Larry,n6hpx
shortwave listener for 45 yrs
and ham for 31 yrs

I will definitely miss the English Programme as it has been my only source of information regarding what was happying in the Dutch land. I learn so many Dutch proverbs, enables me to follow the story, helped me inform others correctly and leave doubt in the minds of people who know I can't read or understand Dutch and yet I was well informed.
As a Christian, I am praying that the Country will soon fully recover from the financial drama and you will change you mind to resume your service to staff members of more than 150 international organisations in the Den Haag alone.
Thank you for giving me power over the years I have stayed in the Netherlands as "Information is Power". To the many workers who gaving up their sleep, vacation time and family, I say thank you all.

Very saddened by this.Thank you for all your good work.

It's very sad. I've been listening to you since I was 14, I'll miss you...

Whilst I have only known the brilliant and professional English language teams from Radio Netherlands Worldwide for the past 10 years, initially through Radio Australia and then the Internet, my heart goes out to you.

Such extraordinary service, such creative and comprehensive radio programming and production – equal to the best from anywhere in the world – now being rewarded in the worst possible way… with silence.

RNW in English has given a small nation a disproportionately loud and influential voice for the better. You may have a new remit but you are being forced to do it gagged.

I'm very proud to have taken part in your final program. But at the same time a little sad that your last program white washed RNs history. Nothing about Dody or Jerry Cowan, John van den Steen, Harry van Gelder, Rob Green, Nevil Grey, and so many others. Also the fact that you didn't even have Tom Meijer on the final program to say a few words a little insulting. He only worked at RN for over 22 years.
Your final program seemed to only focus on news and documentaries. This is only a small part of what RN did and only a small part of RN became known for. Is there some kind of embarrassment for the years of entertainment shows RN was known for? Maybe you don't want to admit it, but this was a large bulk of your output. This is what attracted many listeners.
Yes it's true times have changed, but maybe if RN didn't try to be like everyone else it would have survived a lot better. Personally I feel not to cover this aspect of what RN was known for from 1947 to the early 90s as a listener I find it a bit insulting.
Yes I'm very sad that your gone. You don't know how much sadness I have over this. A little angry? Yes!
I just feel it could have been done in a bang. Again my thoughts don't really matter. But this is whats on my mind.
Sorry so see you gone.
Regards,
Keith Perron
PCJ Radio International

A very sad day for those long-time listeners who have made RNW-English a regular part of our lives. I have been listening since ~1985 from upstate New York (mostly from the Albany region). The Euro financial crisis takes another victim!

Best wishes to all the extremely talented staffers who've provided folks around the globe like myself the perspective from Hilversum for all these years. Your 9/11 coverage was amazing and will never be forgotten.

Sincerely Yours,

- Larry
Clifton Park, New York

I heard the sad news yesterday at night and I just could not believe it !!!I have been listening to you guys since 1970 in different places such as Etiopia, Israel, Nicaragua, United States, you have been my loyal companion and keep me in touch with the outside world in remote areas where my team and I had been working.

I will definatley miss you and I do believe, internet will never go further than short wave broadcast in development countries such as ours.

Where there is nothing but the sky and the earth, and We between this two radio does make a difference!!!!!!!!!!!

Kind Rgds

I am saddened at this loss: a truly great institution has passed. Like many others who have written, I checked my Happy Station QSL to confirm exactly how long RNW has been part of my life. Fifty three years, it turns out. That means that, because of your booming signals, even before I entered the eighth grade I was already familiar with some of the culture of the Netherlands, and with some of your ideas, ethics, style, values, history, and - thanks especially to Eddie Startz - your sense of humor. And, already at that young age, I felt I liked who you were, and what you stood for. An opinion I’ve held ever since. Please accept my thanks for all those years of service, and my sympathies now.