Neerpelt Ultralight Airfield

The closure was a result of regulatory and environmental issues. The primary reasons were:
1. **Environmental Impact:** The airfield was located within a European 'Special Protection Area' for birds (Vogelrichtlijngebied) and was directly adjacent to the Hageven-De Plateaux nature reserve. The noise and flight activity were deemed incompatible with the objectives of protecting the sensitive local fauna and the tranquility of the nature reserve.
2. **Zoning Conflict:** The land was officially zoned as an agricultural area. An airfield was not considered a permissible use under the regional planning regulations, and authorities were unwilling to grant a permanent exception. The combination of these environmental and zoning conflicts led to the non-renewal of its operating permit.

The site of the former airfield has been completely decommissioned and returned to nature and agriculture. Satellite imagery shows the former grass runway is now an overgrown field, with its outline barely visible. There are no remaining hangars, markings, or any other aviation infrastructure on the site. The land is now functionally part of the surrounding rural landscape that borders the Hageven nature reserve.

Neerpelt Ultralight Airfield was a private recreational airfield dedicated exclusively to ultralight aviation. It served as the home base for the 'Noord-Limburgse ULM-club' (North Limburg Ultralight Club). The facility consisted of a single unpaved grass runway, approximately 450 meters long, and basic hangar facilities. For many years, it was a significant local hub for ultralight pilots and aviation enthusiasts in the North Limburg region of Belgium, providing a crucial space for recreational flying and community building around the sport.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Neerpelt Ultralight Airfield. A reopening at the original location is considered extremely unlikely due to the same stringent environmental protections and zoning laws that led to its closure. These regulations remain firmly in place, making a future for aviation at this specific site unfeasible.