''Radio Oranje'' (;

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

: "Radio Orange") was a Dutch radio programme on the BBC European Service broadcast to the

German-occupied Netherlands Despite Dutch neutrality, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 as part of Fall Gelb (Case Yellow). On 15 May 1940, one day after the bombing of Rotterdam, the Dutch forces surrendered. The Dutch government and the royal family re ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It was transmitted from

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and broadcast programmes of approximately 15 minutes. It consisted of brief commentaries on current affairs and political speeches, as well as news on the

Free Dutch Forces The Free Dutch Forces refers to the Armed forces of the Netherlands, Dutch military formations of the Dutch government-in-exile and Dutch Colonial Empire, its colonies that were formed to fight alongside the Allies of World War II, Western Alli ...

, colonies, and merchant navy. It was distinct from the BBC's own Dutch Service which only broadcast news programmes and which, unlike Radio Oranje, was not controlled by the

Dutch government in exile The Dutch government-in-exile ( nl, Nederlandse regering in ballingschap), also known as the London Cabinet ( nl, Londens kabinet), was the government in exile of the Netherlands, supervised by Queen Wilhelmina, that fled to London after the Germ ...

. Radio Oranje made its first broadcast on 28 July 1940, consisting of a rendition of the nationalist song

Merck toch hoe sterck "Merck toch hoe sterck" (Dutch: ) is a Dutch war song and sea shanty, written between 1622 and 1625 by Adriaen Valerius (who adapted the "Wilhelmus", the national anthem of the Netherlands). The music is based on an Elizabethan lute song writte ...

, followed by a speech by

Queen Wilhelmina Wilhelmina (; Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World Wa ...

. In total, Wilhelmina spoke on ''Radio Oranje'' 34 times during the course of the war. The name, Radio Oranje, was a tribute to the Dutch monarchy's

House of Orange-Nassau The House of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: ''Huis van Oranje-Nassau'', ) is the current reigning house of the Netherlands. A branch of the European House of Nassau, the house has played a central role in the politics and government of the Netherlands ...

Presenters

Jan de Hartog Jan de Hartog (April 22, 1914 – September 22, 2002) was a Dutch playwright, novelist and occasional social critic who moved to the United States in the early 1960s and became a Quaker. Biography Early years Jan de Hartog was born to a Dut ...

Loe de Jong Loe or LOE may refer to: * Level of effort * Levels of evidence * ''Living on Earth'', weekly news program distributed by Public Radio International * Loe of Maui, semi-legendary king of Maui * Loe, Estonia, a village in Estonia * Loei Airport, IA ...

Herman de Man Salomon Herman "Sal" Hamburger (11 July 1898 – 14 November 1946), known under his pseudonym Herman de Man, was a Dutch novelist. Life and work Salomon Herman Hamburger was born on 11 July 1898 in Woerden in the Netherlands. De Man, son of b ...

* A. den Doolaard *

Jetty Paerl Henriette Nanette "Jetty" Paerl (27 May 1921 – 22 August 2013) was a Dutch singer and resistance member of Jewish origin. She is known for being one of the Netherlands' representatives in the Eurovision Song Contest 1956 with the song " De v ...

Bibliography

* Dra. M. G. Schenk and J. B. Th. Spaan, ''De Koningin Sprak. Proclamaties en radio-toespraken van H.M. Koningin Wilhelmina 1940-1945'', 1945 () * H. J. van den Broek, ''Hier Radio Oranje'' * O. Sinke, ''Verzet vanuit de Verte. De Behoedzame Koers van Radio Oranje'', 2009. {{BBC World Service Netherlands in World War II Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom BBC World Service foreign language Dutch resistance Radio stations established in 1940 1940 establishments in the Netherlands 1940 establishments in England Radio in the Netherlands 1944 disestablishments in the Netherlands 1944 disestablishments in England Radio during World War II Radio stations disestablished in 1944 Defunct mass media in the Netherlands

Presenters

See also

Bibliography