As early as the late 1930s, the then National Institute for Radio Broadcasting (NIR) was aware that the predecessor of this broadcasting station no longer met the needs. However, plans for a new station had to be postponed until after the Second World War. In 1946, the plans were drawn up, and five years later, the foundation stone of the new building was laid. King Baudouin solemnly inaugurated the new project in 1952.
The new transmitting station was specifically designed for the national and international radio broadcasts of the public broadcaster. During that period, there were still many Belgians in Africa and other parts of the world. To maintain their connection with the homeland, broadcasts were conducted from here using shortwave. The transmitters had a power of 100 kW. The transmission system at the time was amplitude modulation (AM). Frequency modulation (FM) was still very experimental at that time, and there were virtually no FM receivers.
Over the years, the transmission equipment was repeatedly tinkered with and modified, but technology does not stand still. What was high-tech in 1952 has now (barely 60 years later) become industrial archaeology. Today, the internet offers a much more efficient solution for reaching Belgians abroad. The outdated transmitters were no longer replaced. Shortwave broadcasts were discontinued in 2001, and 10 years later, VRT also stopped broadcasting on medium wave. The once imposing building will soon make way for a new hospital complex.
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