Dutch Military Power At Soesterberg Museum
What really impressed us was the military collection ranging from modern warfare to the oldest military equipment known in Dutch history.
They laid out the collection in chronological order ranging from old to new in an easy and efficient way for you to get through the museum.
During World War I, the Netherlands was a neutral country, and flew border patrol missions from Soesterberg airfield.
giant tank at the National Military Museum Soesterberg in the Netherlands
The Dutch confiscated all foreign aircraft landing inside the borders of their country during the war, and added the operational ones to their inventory to be used for pilot training at Soesterberg.
At the beginning of World War II, the Dutch again declared neutrality, but the German force's blitzkrieg overran the country in five days, and Soesterberg was occupied by the German Luftwaffe on 15 May 1940.
Dutch National Military Museum Soesterberg
Throughout the war, Allied Air Forces caused enormous damage to the airfield, and by September 1944 the Luftwaffe acknowledged Soesterberg airfield to be more or less useless.
In May 1945, Canadian forces liberated the airfield. After the War, an extensive Dutch construction programme was started - to build, new hangars, extending the runways and several locations around the base, used as service areas during the War, were upgraded.
Sausage sandwiches at Soesterberg
On 5 August 1951, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) declared it operational and gave it an air defence role. The RNLAF has maintained flying units at Soesterberg since then.
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