This message by Edwin Bollier, owner of the MEBO Ltd in Zürich/Switzerland was broadcasted by several Dutch Radio Stations on 31st August 2024.:
It’s amazing that 50 YEARS after the shutdown, so many people are still interested in Radio Noordzee International.
It was probably the most exciting and adventurous time of my life. If you think back to those years, there were no mobile phones, no notebooks and no Compact Discs back then. Today’s download or streaming technology for music via the Internet did not yet exist. All new vinyl records and broadcast tapes had to be transported to the Radioship via Scheveningen by a tender boat. Back then, fans were busy writing their letters and cards to the DJs. I was always amazed when the postman brought a basket full of fan mail every day. As there were no text messages, WhatsApp, emails or Facebook. The DJs replied to their fans with greetings on their radio show or wrote by hand or typewriter. Our station motto RNI – The Sound of Young Europe inspired listeners. There were hundreds of thousands in Holland, millions in England and also many in other countries. We also reached other continents with our shortwave programmes. It is clear to me that Radio Nordsee would never have become sucessful without the many listeners and the good staff. Personally, I would never have made it without my friend and business partner Erwin Meister!
We are proud that many big hits were launched by RNI. The music scene in Holland and England had golden times. Unfortunately, many obstacles were always put in our way. We only really made good money when we launched the Dutch programme. The collaboration with Strengholt brought the turnaround. For us, the English programme was always an important part of the RNI success story and was part of our passion as radio producers.
The closure – 50 years a go – was a sad moment for all of us, but the memories of an interesting and turbulent time remain.
Victor Pelli, our RNI Production Director, said it well on the ‘Radio Day’ in Amsterdam: «We had a uniquely colourful radio ship, a unique team and a unique sound. Thank you all for continuing to preserve the idea and spirit of Radio Nordsee International.»
And at the end of my message I want to thank everyone who has worked for RNI and made it a tremendous success story.
Yours truly,
Edwin Bollier
