ON6ZT Radio Club Revives Zottegem Station with NMBS and Mayor

Zottegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Local Radio club ON6ZT has moved into Zottegem’s old train station after years of vacancy. With NMBS and Mayor Evelien De Both’s support, the club now meets 3 times a week.

As VRT News reported, the old train station in Zottegem, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, has a new use. Local radio club ON6ZT has moved in. The building was empty for many years. The club had been looking for a new place. Chairman Bernard Magerman says this is a big step. He says the building is in a good spot. The club can meet there and give lessons. 

He mentioned that they can also test radio signals and try new ideas. The building has what they need. They can work with old and new radio systems. They can also connect with satellites and test antennas. They want to work with schools and local groups. They hope to get more young people interested in radio and science.

What happens when a radio club moves into an empty station?

The city of Zottegem and NMBS worked together to give the old station building a new use. Mayor Evelien De Both asked NMBS to find something useful for empty station buildings, including the one in Zottegem. NMBS agreed and helped look for a good match. They found that in the radio club, ON6ZT. 

Mayor Evelien De Both (N-VA) says the move of radio club ON6ZT into the old station building in Zottegem is a “win-win-win” for all. She says the club now has a steady place to meet, NMBS has found a good use for one of its empty buildings, and the city has more presence in the station area. 

The mayor says safety is her top goal for this term. She explains that safety has many sides, but bringing life back to this building is already a step in the right direction. A place that is used often is less likely to be damaged or ignored. 

“There have been frequent incidents in and around the station in recent years,”

says De Both.

“By assigning it to the radio club, we’re not only creating a vibrant meeting place for enthusiastic hobbyists, but we’re also ensuring greater social control in the station area.”

Radio club ON6ZT will now meet in the old station building. They plan to gather 3 times a week, both in the day and in the evening. Later, they hope to meet every day. They want to make the building a busy and active place. 

Radio club ON6ZT is part of a worldwide group of people who use radios to talk over long distances. These people are called “hams.” They learn how radios work and how to fix problems. They also help during events or emergencies when normal communication does not work. 

The club teaches new members and tries to get young people interested in science. In Belgium, the BIPT makes the rules for radio clubs. Officials mentioned that every club must follow these rules to use their radios.