Text: Rene Lipmann, Photos: Joost van Ufelen and Klaudie Bartelink

In 2024, Klaudie Bartelink and Peter van Rodijnen will launch a unique film about the largest nature reserve in the Netherlands. Driven by a boundless passion for diving and nature, because beautiful nature does not always have to be exotic and far away. On Saturday and Sunday, 4:00 PM on stage 1, Klaudie is one of the guest speakers at Duikvaker.

“In the year 2003 I was in Maassluis, ready to leave the harbor on board the diving ship Blue Whale. An exciting atmosphere was in the air as it was my first day of diving with Get Wet Maritiem. On board were divers who had recently discovered something extraordinary: dozens of Baccarat crystal glasses and decanters among the iron trusses of the wreck of the Kursk. Once intended for the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II.

The ship ran into trouble in 1912 during a ferocious storm. The cargo list mentioned another precious treasure on board, an 8-meter-high granite column with a bronze eagle, intended for placement on the Borodino battlefield. In 1812, Napoleon won a battle there in which 30,000 civilians died, and this eagle was a symbolic gift from the French to the Russians. We dropped a dredge anchor to the wreck of the Kursk and jumped into the dark green water. Upon arriving at the seabed I found myself in a mist of swirled sand and mud. The divers in front of me had already begun their search for the glassware, which was buried under the sediment. It was not an easy task. The divers' determination was admirable, but also dangerous. Even when they were running out of air, they didn't give up. This was a moment when I realized that the North Sea is full of secrets, stories and passion. My heart was sold on this adventure. From that moment on I often dived with them.”

Diving and filming with a purpose

In 2013, ten years after her first dive in the North Sea, Klaudie and her partner Ben Stiefelhagen founded the Dive the North Sea Clean Foundation. Their mission was simple: make the North Sea clean and safe for marine life. The team of dedicated volunteer divers removes an average of 10,000 pounds of lost fishing nets, lead and plastic from shipwrecks during each expedition. To date, 22 expeditions have been completed. As a board member (responsible for fundraising), Klaudie was able to make a valuable contribution to the foundation and she often took part in the filming expeditions. These expeditions allowed her to make more than 400 dives at 150 different locations in the North Sea.

From educationalist to film producer

After her training as an educational expert, Klaudie was involved as a course developer in the production of various educational multimedia products for target groups that had difficulty with written language. Films therefore played an important role. As a diver and lover of documentaries, she also became interested in events that take place underwater. Creating images and sharing them with others can already be meaningful, but the step to full production adds a new dimension. Klaudie immediately knew what her first North Sea documentary should be about. All wreck diving organizations in IJmuiden and Scheveningen regularly organize diving days to the wrecks of three impressive English cruisers: the Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy, which are nearby. The idea of offering her fellow divers and others involved a fascinating story about the history of this shipwreck makes diving on these wrecks more interesting. At first, Klaudie only found some factual information on the internet. But her research gained depth when she came into contact with Henk van der Linden, the author of the book The three mass graves off the Dutch coast. As a result, she discovered that these English cruisers, manned with 2,297 reservists and young sea cadets, sailed unprotected off the coast of Scheveningen, where they were surprised by a new, virtually unknown and destructive weapon: the German U-boat. This disaster occurred just seven weeks after the start of World War I and turned out to be one of the largest maritime disasters in world history, yet almost completely forgotten.

The documentary called The Live Bait Squadron was quickly distributed on DVD in England, thanks to the Live Bait Squadron Society that Henk had founded, and numerous commemorative ceremonies were organized at home and abroad to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

From hobby to work

Together with her partner Peter van Rodijnen, Klaudie founded Dutch Maritime Productions eight years ago. They obtained the necessary professional diving certificates and made it their mission to visualize the underwater world. “We wanted to collaborate on stories that take place underwater. Our first major project included the journey of the stickleback for the film 'Holland, nature in the delta,' followed by 'De Wilde Stad' about Amsterdam nature with stories about crayfish, rats and the 'city swim', and 'Silence of the Tides', a cinematographic poetic film about the Wadden.” The pair filmed for TV programs and commercials and produced short films for nature organizations. They also sold rights to use archive images and launched the image bank Onderwaterbeeld.nl.

The Wild North Sea: a new adventure

In 2018, Peter and Klaudie decided to raise the bar even higher and approached the Evangelische Omroep with the pitch plan De Wilde Noordzee. The aim was to show the beauty and diversity of the North Sea, in contrast to the gray and cloudy image that many people have of it. Together with Jan Kooyman (independently experienced TV director) and Ignas van Schaick and Mark Verkerk from EMS FILMS, they shape the stories. The Wild North Sea tells the impressive stories of salmon migrating in the waters of Denmark, to the awe-inspiring basking sharks that inhabit Scottish waters. The makers take viewers on the adventure of guillemots hunting sand eels and let them discover the vast fields of seaweed. The Wild North Sea shows viewers a new side of the sea, a world full of astonishing beauty and diversity. Klaudie is convinced that this project will drastically change the perception of the North Sea and inspire people to appreciate and even cherish this unique natural treasure.

In the film, Peter takes the audience to an unknown world. The film not only contains beautiful underwater nature images, but also stories of seabirds in their natural environment. Some inspiring nature restoration projects have been depicted, where dedicated researchers are working to restore the balance in this ecosystem. Peter realized the birds and the work of the researchers in collaboration with the talented camera director Dick Harrewijn. In addition, camera assistants, editors, interns, a composer, a distributor, a sound designer and many more people are involved in the media project. Together they strive to visualize the North Sea and reveal it to the general public, thereby growing appreciation for the unique beauty of the North Sea. Underwater photographer Joost van Uffelen regularly accompanies trips abroad and his photos are used to promote the project. Peter, Joost and Klaudie are working on a book for the film. This book will be available from September 2024. 

This year is extremely special for Peter and Klaudie. The film, The Wild North Sea, nature that cannot be tamed, premieres. The premiere will take place on September 7, 2024 at the Film by the Sea festival in Vlissingen, after which the film will be shown a few days later in cinemas throughout the Netherlands. The four-part TV series will be broadcast by the EO in early 2025.

Our cooperation and dedication

“For us, filming underwater is a true dream that we cherish, but to be honest, it is very difficult to make a living with this in the Netherlands, especially if you want to do this as a couple. Peter is the driving force in the field. His gift and perseverance are admirable. He is willing to spend days and even nights in a row, often alone, to travel to Zeeland or even abroad. All to realize the scenes for De Wilde Noordzee underwater. Peter made 37 dives for the ear jellyfish scene alone.” “My strengths lie elsewhere. I have taken on the role of producer for De Wilde Noordzee. I am more concerned with and the organization of the project. I am also responsible for finding the financial resources necessary for its realization. It is no secret that this is not an easy task in the Netherlands or even internationally, but it is vital if we want to achieve our ambition: creating a professional production of the highest possible quality. I get good help from Ignas van Schaick, who has a lot of experience as a film producer thanks to successful films such as De Nieuwe Wildernis and the cinema film that followed.”

“This division of tasks between Peter and I enables us to realize larger and more ambitious projects as a company. Together we complement each other well and are committed to sharing the beauty of the North Sea with the world. We are determined to make this extraordinary project a reality and share our passion for the sea with others.”

A daring and dangerous undertaking

Peter and Klaudie have been passionately and committed to this project, which entails significant risks, for five years. It is remarkable that even the world famous BBC, which is internationally recognized as the top in nature film productions, has not yet taken up this challenge. Filming underwater in Zeeland and the North Sea, from Bergen in Norway to Calais in France, is far from easy. The sea is often cloudy, with only a few meters of visibility. In addition, the North Sea, especially in the south, is known for its strong currents, which can be dangerous for the team. In addition, the North Sea is one of the busiest seas in the world, which makes the implementation of the project even more complex for the team.

Despite these challenges, Peter and Klaudie work tirelessly to make this project a success. Their determination and dedication are admirable and reflect their deep love for the sea and their desire to share its beauty with the world. As a maker you have to be persistent and continue to believe in the mission. And of course lots of diving from Norway to Belgium. Peter made approximately 1000 dives for this production.

Help us make the North Sea visible

To support the project, you can participate in our crowdfunding campaign. Every contribution is welcome and contributes to achieving our mission. For more information about De Wilde Noordzee, please visit the website: www.dewildenoordzee.nl.