Blakenberg Airfield

Halen, BE 🇧🇪 Closed Airport

ICAO

BE-0088

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

BE-VLI

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 50.94458° N, 5.05254° E

Continent: EU

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

Blakenberg Airfield (BE-0088) in Halen, Belgium, is a closed and former World War II Allied airfield, not an active travel hub. Therefore, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences available regarding overall traveler sentiment, terminal facilities, security wait times, customs/immigration, or transportation connections and parking in the context of a currently operating airfield. The land was returned to agriculture after the war.

During its very brief operational period in 1944, when it was known as "Advance Landing Ground B-66," the airfield faced significant challenges.

What Travelers Loved:

  • Temporary Operational Use: It served briefly as an emergency airstrip and a base for aircraft repair during WWII.
Common Complaints
  • Muddy Conditions: The land was inherently muddy, and efforts to improve the surface with Pierced Steel Planking (PSP) had little effect, making it difficult for aircraft operations.
  • Lack of Infrastructure: There were no hangars, forcing mechanics to perform maintenance in the open air during winter. Essential supplies like tents and luggage for pilots were sometimes missing.
  • Short Operational Career: Due to the challenging conditions, the airfield had a very short operational lifespan and was quickly abandoned for more suitable locations.

Given that Blakenberg Airfield is a historical, non-operational site, it is not possible to provide a summary of recent traveler experiences as requested. Its history points to it being a challenging location even during its limited use in wartime.

Generated False weeks ago
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This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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For Pilots

Designation Length Width Surface Status

Type Description Frequency

Ident Name Type Frequency

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Closure Date

Approximately 2010-2011. Satellite imagery from 2009 shows the airfield as active and well-maintained, while imagery from 2012 onwards shows the runway in a state of disuse and being reclaimed by agriculture.

Reason for Closure

The airfield was a private ULM (Ultralight Motorized) strip. It reportedly closed following the death of its owner and operator. Without his initiative and management, the family did not continue the aviation operations, leading to the permanent closure of the facility.

Current Status

The site has been fully returned to agricultural use. The former grass runway is no longer visible and the land is now used as a field for crops or pasture. The farm buildings and a structure that likely served as a hangar are still present but are used for farming purposes. A large solar farm has been constructed on an adjacent plot, further altering the landscape from its former aviation use.

Historical Significance

Blakenberg Airfield was a private grass airstrip that served the recreational and ultralight aviation community in the Halen area and the wider province of Limburg. It operated under the Belgian national identifier BE-0088, which is used for small, non-public airfields. The airfield was located on a private farm and was a popular local hub for ULM pilots. Its operations were strictly for general aviation and recreational flying; it had no military or commercial significance. It was a characteristic example of a small, passion-driven European private airfield.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Blakenberg Airfield. The conversion of the land back to full-time agriculture and the development of a large solar farm in the immediate vicinity make any future return to aviation use extremely unlikely.

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