Soesterberg
Encyclopedia
Soesterberg is a town in the Dutch
province of Utrecht
. It is a part of the municipality of Soest, and lies about 5 km northeast of Zeist
, on the road between Amersfoort
and Utrecht
.
In 2001, the town of Soesterberg had 5,798 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 1.31 km², and contained 2503 residences.
The 32nd is the only US military unit to ever have been under direct operational control of a foreign nation (operational control fell to the Dutch military).
The Dutch Airforce (then called LuchtVaartafdeling or LVa, literally airdriving department) was established here in 1913.
Soesterberg Airbase is now home to the Dutch army helicopter force, it is slated for closure as the Dutch military establishment is being reduced.
Nearby Kamp Zeist is the home of the Dutch Airforce museum as well as the site of the Lockerbie trials of Libyian agents who blew up a Pan Am Flight 103
over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
province of Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
. It is a part of the municipality of Soest, and lies about 5 km northeast of Zeist
Zeist
Zeist is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands, located east of the city of Utrecht.-Population centres :*Austerlitz*Bosch en Duin*Den Dolder*Huis ter Heide*Zeist- The town of Zeist :...
, on the road between Amersfoort
Amersfoort
Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the...
and Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
.
In 2001, the town of Soesterberg had 5,798 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 1.31 km², and contained 2503 residences.
Soesterberg Air Base
In 1910, the heathland north of the village was used as an airfield. From 1954 to 1994 it became a NATO base for the United States Air Force 32nd FS (originally 512th FDS later it became 32nd FD,32nd FIS and 32nd TFS), and the village of Soesterberg housed a number of American families.The 32nd is the only US military unit to ever have been under direct operational control of a foreign nation (operational control fell to the Dutch military).
The Dutch Airforce (then called LuchtVaartafdeling or LVa, literally airdriving department) was established here in 1913.
Soesterberg Airbase is now home to the Dutch army helicopter force, it is slated for closure as the Dutch military establishment is being reduced.
Nearby Kamp Zeist is the home of the Dutch Airforce museum as well as the site of the Lockerbie trials of Libyian agents who blew up a Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988.
See also
- Scouting in Soesterberg