…..on The first Monday of every month at 12:00pm in The Netherlands.
Why? Because that’s when they test their air raid sirens! There are approximately 4200 placed around the country, one of which is situated right outside our apartment. I recorded the siren with my crappy web cam, but it gives you a good idea of how it sounds, especially if you turn your speakers up. WARNING: The recording might make you want to simultaneously throw up and poo your pants…I’m just saying.
The first time I heard this, I was home alone because Kaushik had started work. As soon as it started I sat up in my seat and completely stopped whatever it was I was doing. It continued whaling it’s eerie song so I got out of my chair and carefully walked to the lounge room window to look outside to see what airplane was about to bomb us, because that’s what I honestly thought was about to happen!
What I saw outside the window was the opposite of what I expected; everyone kept going about their business as though nothing was happening. So, I paced around a little until the siren finished scaring me half to death.
When Kaushik came home I told him about the siren, which he didn’t seem too spooked about because he hadn’t heard it and probably didn’t understand just how loud it actually was.
Fast forward to the next first Monday of the month, which at this point I still didn’t know was a test. While it still managed to make me feel nauseous due to the images of WWII it brought upon, I didn’t panic as much that time.
When Kaushik came home this time, he was all worried that I was scared because he did some research and found out that the siren I mentioned last time was a test they do each first Monday of the month at 12pm. Of course, I had to youtube the siren straight away when I knew it was a regular thing, to show Kaushik how it sounded, which he reluctantly listened to.
I know I probably seem a little over dramatic about it all, but until you hear it for real and unexpectedly at that, it’s hard to understand! This girl called Sarah who is incidentally living in The Ntherlands also blogged about the siren, you can read her reaction here.
December 7, 2008 at 1:52 pm |
Ours are tested the first Saturday of the month at 4pm. Thank goodness I don’t live as close to one as you do! It is unsettling, though.
December 10, 2008 at 9:02 am |
It makes me think of the original black & white version of ‘The Time Machine’ movie, which always freaks me out seeing those red-eyed, flesh eating underground dwellers. Apparently this came about after they found refuge in underground air-raid shelters, why they stayed below ground level & mutated I guess we’ll never know, but if I’m ever in that position I’ll be sure to stay near the door to exit quickly b4 I start to mutate too!