The Field Recording PodCast by Thijs Geritz

Footage taken from my garden of aeroplanes and helicopters flying overhead. The parade through the city centre of The Hague, of which the air parade forms part, has now become a regular feature of what is known as Dutch Veterans’ Day.

Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=73597

A warm afternoon (4:00 p.m.) in March in the Palace Gardens behind Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.

Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=73591

I made this recording during a long walk from Wageningen to Arnhem, following the floodplains of the Lower Rhine. Among the birds you can hear are a Blackbird and a Cuckoo, and possibly also a Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff. Probably a few others as well.

There was also a Pheasant around, although it didn’t make much of a sound.

Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=73576

Ytra Dørvika is a sheltered bay and a well-known sandy beach on the southern end of the Lysefjord in the municipality of Sandnes in the Norwegian county of Rogaland.

What struck me was how fast the waves were compared to the North Sea beach in the Netherlands or the pebble beach in Lima. You can find recordings of both of these examples on my SoundCloud page and podcast.

Aporree: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=73554

Fireworks on new years eve 2025-2026.

After a long Dutch tradition of setting off fireworks freely on New Year's Eve, this was the last turn of the year it was still allowed. Public opposition to fireworks has grown considerably in recent years, and from now on it's only permitted within an association, under a permit, and by professionals.

So this may well have been the last time I got to make such a full recording of fireworks.

Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=73497

Special: From First Recording to Online Archive

Occasionally I share some extra information, background, or an anecdote about my field recordings. This is the second episode of The Field Recording Podcast where I do that.

In this special episode I describe how I first got into making field recordings and how it grew into this online archive. I also explore various aspects of making this kind of recordings — what I consider important, and what not.

Since I wasn't sure I could record the narration myself with the quality I wanted, I opted — as with the previous Special — for an AI-generated voice from ElevenLabs. But the story is mine, and all the field recordings you hear are authentic recordings from my archive.

Enjoy listening — and let me know what you think!

I made a list of all the field recordings you can hear in this episode, but it's longer than SoundCloud allows — so you can find the full list here: https://storage.thijsgeritz.nl/s/Tracklist_Special_2

A binaural recording of a busy street in Chincha Alta. The streets there are mainly filled with so-called mototaxis. You can also hear a coffee vendor promoting her goods by playing a looping pre-recorded message.

On the map - Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=68765

I live on the Dutch coast and am used to the sound of a sandy beach: the rhythmic crashing of waves in the surf. At a pebble beach, like the one near Lima, Peru, it sounds quite different. First, you hear the wave breaking, but immediately after, there's a second sound—the water retreating and dragging the pebbles with it.

I made two recordings at that location. The first (https://soundcloud.com/thijs-geritz/pebble-beach-1) was made during calm weather with a gentle swell—you can occasionally hear individual pebbles rolling. The second (this one) recording was made in stronger wind; in that one, you no longer hear separate stones, but a deep, continuous roar.

On the map - Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=68764

I live on the Dutch coast and am used to the sound of a sandy beach: the rhythmic crashing of waves in the surf. At a pebble beach, like the one near Lima, Peru, it sounds quite different. First, you hear the wave breaking, but immediately after, there's a second sound—the water retreating and dragging the pebbles with it.

I made two recordings at that location. The first (this one) was made during calm weather with a gentle swell—you can occasionally hear individual pebbles rolling. The second recording (https://soundcloud.com/thijs-geritz/pebble-beach-2) was made in stronger wind; in that one, you no longer hear separate stones, but a deep, continuous roar.

On the map - Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=68763

Recording of a daily recurring 'honking symphony': cars, motorcycles, buses, and trucks at the intersection of Avenida Javier Prado Este and Avenida Aviación.

On the map - Aporee: https://aporee.org/maps/work/?loc=68762