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Field recording · The Netherlands

Noorderhoofd [51.98021° N, 4.11153° O]

Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Nederland

A 11-minute field recording by info.sem.zeeman made in 's-Gravenzande, The Netherlands on 28 February 2024, in the evening. Soundscape: sea & waves, birdsong & dawn chorus and harbours, ports & boats.

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Noorderhoofd [51.98021° N, 4.11153° O]
11:08CC BY-ND 3.0by info.sem.zeemanInternet Archive
11:08
Spectrogram of Noorderhoofd [51.98021° N, 4.11153° O]
Spectrogram of the full recording (time left to right, frequency bottom to top), generated by the Internet Archive.

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

Recordist's notes

Noorderhoofd [51,98021° N, 4,11153° O] through the ears of its aquatic- and surrounded wildlife, adapted to the petrochemical industries and cargo shipping by Sem Zeeman Once Doggerland, an historical connection between Britain and continental Europe. Now an industrial area were fossils are found and traded, surrounded by salty water we today call the North Sea. Located on the Noorderhoofd pier along the busiest waterway in Europe, in Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands. The waterway is a ship canal called de Nieuwe Waterweg, which makes the Port of Rotterdam accessible for seagoing vessels from and to the North Sea. It’s the largest port in Europe and specialised in the petrochemical industries and cargo transshipment handlings. Across the water of Noorderhoofd are the Maasvlakte and Europoort, which are very heavily industrialised with also petrochemical industries, as well as coal- and biomass-fired power plants, styrene- and propylene-oxide production and transhipment of ore, coal and palm oil. This industrial area is surrounded by beaches where crabs, shrimps and starfish can be found. By dunes with foxes, rabbits, lizards and moles. By the air with sandpipers, polecats, buzzards and seagulls. And by the water with seals, sea bass’ and garfishes. The auditive beauty of these surroundings is abruptly disturbed by increasing buzzes, noise and suddenly appearing rhythmical radar frequencies presenting itself through electromagnetic signals. The infrasound from the petroleum industries across gets supported by a slowly growing even intenser engine rumbling. The waves crashing on the pier are rising, each one followed by a greater force. An interference of low and high increasing frequencies, as a collaboration between human and nature, is resonating through a pole standing on the pier. Beholding the industrial infrasound and coastal acoustics, responding in the creation of abrasive metallic harmonics. This pole is holding a warning sign, to contain our behaviour on the pier: “Dangerous waves from shipping. Enter at your own risk.” All sounds are captured with a Zoom H5, LOM Geofòn, OrganicAudio Cjossul and Soma Ether

Written by info.sem.zeeman on radio aporee ::: maps.

About the place

's-Gravenzande is a town of about 19,190 people in South Holland, The Netherlands. OttoAnna lists 7 field recordings from here.

Equipment mentioned: Zoom H5 and LOM microphones (Uši). A modular handheld recorder with interchangeable microphone capsules.

Recorded nearby

More by info.sem.zeeman

More sea & waves recordings

Sources & credits