Why the Dutch Built Radio Kootwijk
In the early 20th century, the Dutch government faced a pressing challenge: how to maintain direct, reliable communication with its distant colony, the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). At the time, the Netherlands relied on British and German networks for overseas telegraphy—a dependency that left the country vulnerable to disruptions and external control. The solution was Radio Kootwijk, a state-of-the-art radio transmission station built in 1918 in the remote, interference-free Veluwe region. Its purpose was clear: to establish an independent, long-wave radio link, ensuring that the Netherlands could communicate with its colony without intermediaries. The station’s iconic “Cathedral” building and towering antennas symbolized not just technological ambition, but a strategic assertion of sovereignty. By 1928, Radio Kootwijk achieved the first direct radio-telephonic connection with Bandung, marking a milestone in Dutch technological and political independence. The project was about more than communication; it was about control, autonomy, and reducing reliance on foreign infrastructureen.wikipedia.org+3.
A Community Built Around Sovereignty
Radio Kootwijk wasn’t just a facility—it was a self-sustaining village. Engineers, technicians, and their families lived on-site, creating a close-knit community dedicated to maintaining this vital link. The station’s remote location and innovative technology made it a symbol of Dutch ingenuity and self-reliance, even as it evolved from long-wave to short-wave transmissions and later supported maritime communications. Its legacy endured until satellites rendered it obsolete, but its core mission—ensuring that the Netherlands could communicate on its own terms—remains a powerful metaphor for today’s digital agehierradiokootwijk.nl+2.
The Open Source Movement: Europe’s New Radio Kootwijk
The Call for Digital Sovereignty Fast forward to 2025, and Europe finds itself in a remarkably similar position. The continent’s digital infrastructure, data, and software are largely controlled by non-European entities, creating dependencies that echo the colonial-era reliance on foreign telegraph networks. The response? A groundswell of open source initiatives aimed at reclaiming digital sovereignty. Just as Radio Kootwijk allowed the Netherlands to communicate independently, open source software and data governance frameworks are now seen as essential for Europe to control its digital destiny.
Building the EuroStack Today’s open source movement in Europe is not just about writing code—it’s about building an alternative digital infrastructure. Projects like the EuroStack, Sovereign Cloud Stack, and the Digital Commons initiative are modern equivalents of Radio Kootwijk: ambitious, collaborative efforts to create European-controlled platforms for cloud computing, AI, and data governance. These initiatives are not just technical; they are strategic, driven by the need to ensure that European data stays under European jurisdiction, that software can be adapted to local needs, and that critical infrastructure is not subject to the whims of foreign powers or corporationseuro-stack.com+3.
From Regulation to Realization The European Union is increasingly recognizing that regulation alone is not enough. Just as Radio Kootwijk required both visionary planning and hands-on engineering, digital sovereignty demands concrete action. Pilot projects, public-private partnerships, and dedicated funding (such as the proposed European Open Source Sovereignty Fund) are turning rhetoric into reality. The goal is to create an ecosystem where open standards, interoperability, and local innovation thrive—much like the mixed community that once thrived around Radio Kootwijk’s transmittersblog.okfn.org+3.
Open Source as the New Shortwave Shortwave radio revolutionized global communication by making it more accessible and resilient. Open source software is doing the same for digital infrastructure. By mandating open formats, supporting multilingual models, and investing in homegrown technologies like RISC-V, Europe is laying the groundwork for a future where it is not just a consumer of technology, but a leader in its creation and governancetech.eu+2.
The Analogy: Then and Now
Independence Through Innovation Both Radio Kootwijk and the open source movement represent a refusal to accept dependency. In the 1920s, the Dutch built their own radio network to avoid relying on British and German systems. Today, Europe is building its own digital stack to avoid over-reliance on American and Asian tech giants. The parallels are striking: both efforts require long-term investment, technical expertise, and a shared sense of purpose.
Community and Collaboration Just as Radio Kootwijk fostered a community of experts dedicated to a common goal, today’s open source projects are bringing together developers, policymakers, and businesses across Europe. The challenge is not just technical, but cultural—shifting from a mindset of consumption to one of creation and collaboration.
A Legacy of Resilience Radio Kootwijk’s story is a reminder that sovereignty is not a one-time achievement, but an ongoing process. The station adapted to new technologies and changing geopolitical realities, just as Europe’s open source ecosystem must evolve to meet future challenges. The lesson is clear: true sovereignty—whether in communication or computation—requires both vision and persistence.
Conclusion: Writing the Next Chapter
As Europe continues to push for digital sovereignty, the story of Radio Kootwijk offers both inspiration and a cautionary tale. Independence is possible, but it demands more than just good intentions. It requires investment, innovation, and a willingness to build something enduring. The open source movement is Europe’s chance to write its own digital future—one line of code at a time.
What do you think? Are there other historical examples that resonate with today’s push for digital sovereignty? How can we ensure that Europe’s open source initiatives remain inclusive and sustainable?