Valkenburg Naval Air Base
Encyclopedia
Valkenburg Naval Air Base (Dutch: Vliegkamp Valkenburg) is a former air base located just south of Valkenburg
, which is part of Katwijk
and close to the city of Leiden, that was used by the Royal Netherlands Navy
up until 2006, being their base for the Lockheed P-3 Orion
aircraft, which were sold to Germany
and Portugal
, resulting in the closure of the air base. Though officially closed as an airport, it still sees limited use for special events and by gliders and occasionally small piston aircraft, most of which from local flying club Aeroclub Valkenburg. Current plans however are to use the area for housing development, but part of the former Air Base may remain in use for glider flying.
. After Germany occupied the Netherlands, the German military completed construction of the air base for their own use, naming it Fliegerhorst Katwijk. It was used by the German Luftwaffe
until 1943, when it was rendered unusable by the Germans themselves.
After the war it briefly served as a home for the Royal Netherlands Air Force
air transport wing, but in 1947 the Navy received control of the air base. After Ypenburg Airport
was closed in 1992, many VIP flights for the government and the Royal Family
moved to Valkenburg.
Valkenburg (South Holland)
Valkenburg is a village and former municipality in the province of South Holland, in thewestern Netherlands. Valkenburg is now part of the municipality Katwijk....
, which is part of Katwijk
Katwijk
Katwijk is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. It has a population of 61,292.-Location:...
and close to the city of Leiden, that was used by the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
up until 2006, being their base for the Lockheed P-3 Orion
P-3 Orion
The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
aircraft, which were sold to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, resulting in the closure of the air base. Though officially closed as an airport, it still sees limited use for special events and by gliders and occasionally small piston aircraft, most of which from local flying club Aeroclub Valkenburg. Current plans however are to use the area for housing development, but part of the former Air Base may remain in use for glider flying.
History
Construction of the air base was commenced in 1939, but not completed before the start of the second world warWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After Germany occupied the Netherlands, the German military completed construction of the air base for their own use, naming it Fliegerhorst Katwijk. It was used by the German Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
until 1943, when it was rendered unusable by the Germans themselves.
After the war it briefly served as a home for the Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
The Royal Netherlands Air Force , Dutch Koninklijke Luchtmacht , is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded on 1 July 1913, with four pilots...
air transport wing, but in 1947 the Navy received control of the air base. After Ypenburg Airport
Ypenburg Airport
Ypenburg Airport , which later became Ypenburg Air Base was an airport in the Netherlands near the city of The Hague.-History:...
was closed in 1992, many VIP flights for the government and the Royal Family
Monarchy of the Netherlands
The Netherlands has been an independent monarchy since 16 March 1815, and has been governed by members of the House of Orange-Nassau since.-Constitutional role and position of the monarch:...
moved to Valkenburg.