Vliegveld Haamstede, Airfield in Schouwen-Duiveland, Netherlands
Vliegveld Haamstede is an airfield located on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland in the Dutch province of Zeeland, situated near the North Sea coast. The facility features a grass runway approximately 630 meters long and 30 meters wide.
The site began as a military flying school that operated a fleet of around 25 aircraft until March 1940, when German forces destroyed the facilities during their occupation. This bombing brought an abrupt end to the early aviation operations that had flourished there.
The airfield became a destination for wealthy Rotterdam residents in the 1930s who used it to reach the casino in Knokke, reflecting how flying was then an exclusive privilege of the upper classes. This pattern shows how the location served as a gathering point for people seeking leisure beyond their home region.
The airfield operates only for glider activities today, with motorized aircraft prohibited from using the grass runway. Visitors should note this is an active flying site and public access may be restricted at certain times.
The airfield became the first domestic destination for KLM flights departing from Waalhaven airport in 1930, marking the beginning of regional air service in the Netherlands. This connection reveals how this remote location was integrated into the emerging Dutch aviation network from the start.
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