Radio Atlantis History 2

Radio Atlantis - History (2)

Technicians worked on the station's transmitting equipment throughout February 1974 and a significant improvement in signal strength was achieved by the end of the month. A number of frequency changes followed throughout March and April to try and improve reception.

Despite these on-going technical problems Radio Atlantis managed to improve its output in programming terms at least. On 18th March 1974 news bulletins were introduced during the English Service on the half hour and from 4th May the English programme schedule was extended to 13 hours each day.

During a violent storm on 6th June 1974, the Janine's aerial mast collapsed and by an unfortunate series of coincidences the transmitter also started to fail, resulting in the station going off the air completely. The following morning the crew awoke to realise that the Janine had broken from her anchor chain during the night and drifted 20 miles northwards, ending up on a sandbank off Westkapelle.

The stranded vessel was towed back to her original position in international waters off Knokke, where a new eleven ton anchor and chain were fitted and broadcasts were able to recommence on 9th June 1974.

Despite frequent breakdowns Radio Atlantis, while it was on the air became increasingly popular in its target area of Belgium and Holland as well as in the south and east of England.

The Flemish Service of Radio Atlantis stopped carrying advertisements at the end of June 1974 because of fears that Belgian authorities would take action against the station's owners. Meanwhile, the English Service managed to attract some advertising, but in any event the personal financial resources of Adriaan van Landschoot met the weekly running costs of the station.

At the end of July the station briefly experimented with short wave transmissions, but these were discontinued after only one day. On 1st August 1974 the station's main transmitter crystal was damaged beyond repair and Radio Atlantis was put off the air. The station was forced to use one of its other crystals, tuned to another frequency, to return to the air and during the early morning of 2nd August 1974 Radio Atlantis recommenced broadcasts but had to change frequency repeatedly over the following two weeks before a satisfactory signal could be achieved.

Radio Atlantis announced on 17th August that the station would close in the face of the Dutch Marine Offences Act which was coming into effect at the end of August 1974.

In fact, the Flemish Service closed just over a week later at 2.00pm on 25th August 1974. For the remainder of its time on the air Radio Atlantis broadcast an all-day English language service with the on-board DJs being given a virtual free hand to programme the station as they wished.

On 30th August the station's land-based DJs presented their final shows on tape and throughout the following day all DJs on-board the Janine presented their individual final programmes. From 6.00pm all staff joined in a "Goodbye Show" which lasted until 7.05pm when the station switched off its transmitters for the last time.

Early the following morning, 1st September 1974 the station's tender, En Rust, raised the Janine's anchor and towed the radio ship to Vlissingen where she was met by a crowd of over 1,000 fans and well wishers. However, two days later an arrest warrant was placed on the ship by Harry van de Velde, who claimed he was owed money for the transmitter equipment which the station had been using. Adriaan van Landschoot had attempted to sell the ship as a fully equipped radio station before Radio Atlantis closed, but the deal fell through.

In September 1974 four people associated with Radio Atlantis (including Adrian van Landschoot) were charged with offences under the Belgian Marine Offences Act of 1962. The case was referred to the Brussels High Court where it was heard on 29th November 1974 - all four were found guilty and fined. Adriaan van Landschoot was also given a three month prison sentence, suspended for five years. These sentences were later commuted following appeal to the King of Belgium.

An attempt was made to re launch Radio Atlantis (as Radio Dolfin) from the Gunfleet Lighthouse and some test transmissions were made during late 1974. However these plans were halted when British authorities raided the Gunfleet Lighthouse on 19th December 1974 and confiscated all broadcasting equipment.