Advice for a UK Photographer

[BritishAndy]

A lot of fire stations in Holland are only volunteer. Mostly there are no firefighters at that firestations.

If somebody is at the fire station, than it's mostly not an problem to photograph the vehicles.

Maybe it's helpfull for you to visit the website www.brandweervoertuigenonline.nl . On this site you will find a lot of dutch fire vehicles, and the fire stations it belongs to. If you don't understand, you allways welcome to ask over here!

At firestation Amstelveen is now an new command unit. This vehicle is almost unique in Holland. There is also an brand new foam tender at Amstelveen. I don't know if Amstelveen has working firefighters at the station.

To photograph some unique vehicles you also can go to firehouses like Hilversum or Zeist. There are some special Forest Fire trucks. This 2 fire stations have 24/7 shifts.

If you like to go some miles futher into Holland you can visit Ede. There is an big 6x6 forest truck with 10.000 Liter of water. Also is there an watertender. It's an truck with an Trailer. Ede had also 24/7 shifts.

At Dordrecht Oranjepark is a combination vehicle. This is an unique vehicle in Holland. Dordrecht Oranjepark had als 24/7 shifts.

At Den Haag Firestation Leidschenveen is an special vehicle for heavy accidents. I Don't know how to call this vehicle in English. But with this picture you will understand:


This vehicle is now 1 year in service. Fire station Leidschenveen is has 24/7 shifts to.

I think there is a lot more to tell, but i'm running out of time for now. If you don't understand something, of if you had questions. Just ask, you're welcome!  

Thank you Luke for your excellent information   I understand that the VBB has arranged for us to visit Den Haag to see the Rescue Crane.
Thank you also for the link to the website, I have seen this site before and the photographs and information are excellent.  

[Wouter]

Dont forget the Dirk fire station in Amsterdam. Houses just a pumper and a ladder but its the oldest fire station in The Netherlands!

[BritishAndy]

I work at the dispatch of Amsterdam and region, and the fire house of amstelveen should never be a problem to visit. They've got alot of vehicles, with divers, ladder, rescue unit and two pumpers..(new command unit and foam tender are not to be found there unfortunately)..

Firehouse here is 24/7 occupied..

In the hague and region you can also visit some houses like the one above, or Delft, with alot of vehicles, a new pilot with a pumper with four people..

Delft is between rotterdam and the hague..

In the hague is also a motorcycle to be found, fire house Den Haag Centrum..

In Wassenaar, where I also work, you are always welcome during the day, when the firehouse is occupied.. we have 2 pumpers, from which one is brand new, 4x4 for forest and dune firefighting..

Wassenaar is placed next to the hague..

Oh, by the way, driving from Amsterdam airport tot Rotterdam doesn't take a whole day, just 1 hour...

At last but not least, maybe pay a visit to our dispatch in Amsterdam, which is housed in one of the busiest firehouses in Amsterdam, called Nico..

Thank you very much for your information and offers, actually two of my friends who will be with me are both dispatchers - one guy works as an officer in the London Fire Brigade dispatch, the other in the Central Scotland Fire Brigade dispatch. I am sure they would be very interested. I will send you a PM and thank you again for your help  

[FF4266]

Dont forget the Dirk fire station in Amsterdam. Houses just a pumper and a ladder but its the oldest fire station in The Netherlands!

in all of europe to be exact!!!

[Royofzo]

Thank you for the excellent information. We were hoping to go to Dordrecht as I understand that is where the Multistar vehicle is? Do they have more than one station in Dordrecht?

Yeah Dordrecht has two stations. Dordrecht Oranjepark is an old station with indeed the unique combination vehicle (pumper/aerial ladder). Station Dordrecht Leerpark has the brand new station.

[BritishAndy]

Guys,
The help and response so far has been excellent, I really cant thank you all enough! Of course if any of you ever find yourselves in the UK, I will happily return the favour!

One question which might be a bit hard though, I have seen the very special vehicle at BP Rotterdam - the Scania Foam/Hoogwerker. As it is an industrial site, do you think it would be impossible to visit? I know some people have been previously to take photographs, but with security issues is it very difficult to arrange?

[FF4266]

Yup, impossible.. you have to work there to enter the terrain and also follow a course even to be allowed to move around there..

Ps: i will answer your pm tomorrow...