Soesterberg
Soesterberg | |
|---|---|
 Building in Soesterberg Air Base | |
  Soesterberg Location in the Netherlands  Soesterberg Soesterberg (Netherlands) | |
| Coordinates:52°7′10″N5°16′59″E/ 52.11944°N 5.28306°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Utrecht |
| Municipality | Soest |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.62 km2(2.17 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Total | 7,210 |
| • Density | 1,300/km2(3,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2(CEST) |
| Postal code | 3769[1] |
| Dialing code | 0346 |
Soesterbergis a town in theDutchprovince ofUtrecht.It is a part of the municipality ofSoest,and lies about 5 km northeast ofZeist,on the road betweenAmersfoortandUtrecht.It was the location ofSoesterberg Air Base
History
[edit]The town was first mentioned in 1840 as Berg, meaning hill belonging toSoest.[3]In 1840, it was home to 253 people.[4]The military airbase and the tram lineAmersfoort–Zeistcaused a rapid growth of the village in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1939, a monastery was established by theSociety of the Divine Word.[5]In 1940, an officer's casino was built for the GermanLuftwaffe.It is one of the few remaining buildings in Nazi architectural style in the Netherlands, and has 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) thick walls. It was captured intact by the Canadians in 1945, and was used by theKLMandMinistry of Defence.It has been converted into an apartment building.[4]
In 1837, a Catholic church was built which was replaced between 1952 and 1953 by the Carolus Borromeus Church.[5]
Soesterberg Air Base
[edit]In 1910, the heathland north of the village was used as an airfield. The Dutch Airforce (then calledLuchtVaartafdelingor LVa, literally airdriving department) was established here in 1913. From 1954 to 1994, Soesterberg Air Base became aNATObase for theUnited States Air Force32nd 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 that has been under direct operational control of a foreign nation (operational control fell to the Dutch military). It was the home of the Dutch army helicopter force until the base's closure in 2010 due to the reduction of the Dutch military establishment. It is now the location of theNationaal Militair Museum,which opened in 2014. NearbyKamp van Zeistis the site of theLockerbie trialof Libyan agents who blew upPan Am Flight 103over the Scottish town ofLockerbiein 1988.
Today the Dutch Ministry of Defence still operate a few facilities around the airbase.
Gallery
[edit]-
Former post office -
Colony house De Stompert -
Shopping centre -
Carolus Borromeus Church
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abc"Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021".Central Bureau of Statistics.Retrieved27 March2022.
- ^"Postcodetool for 3769AA".Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland(in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis.Retrieved27 March2022.
- ^"Soesterberg - (geografische naam)".Etymologiebank(in Dutch).Retrieved27 March2022.
- ^ab"Soesterberg".Plaatsengids(in Dutch).Retrieved27 March2022.
- ^abRonald Stenvert & Chris Kolman (1996)."Soesterberg"(in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders.ISBN90 400 9757 7.Retrieved27 March2022.
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