Soesterberg

Soesterberg
Coordinates: 52°7′10″N 5°16′59″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Utrecht
Municipality	Soest
Population	8,500

Soesterberg (2020)

Soesterberg (52°0′N 5°17′E) 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 2,503 residences.

Soesterberg Air Base

Main article: Soesterberg Air Base

In 1910, the heathland north of the village was used as an airfield. The Dutch Airforce (then called LuchtVaartafdeling or LVa, literally airdriving department) was established here in 1913. From 1954 to 1994, Soesterberg Air Base 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 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 Dutch military establishment. It is now the location of the Nationaal Militair Museum, which opened in 2014. Nearby Kamp van Zeist is the site of the Lockerbie trial of Libyan agents who blew up Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988.

See also

• Scouting in Soesterberg