Havelte Airport

Military Disuse. The original WWII decoy airfield was abandoned after the liberation of the Netherlands. The subsequent military landing zone (NL-0039) was likely decommissioned due to changes in military training requirements, doctrine, or consolidation of air assets, rendering a small, basic strip at this specific location obsolete.

The site is located entirely within the confines of the Johannes Post Kazerne, an active and restricted military training area near Havelte in the province of Drenthe. The land is not recognizable as an airfield and consists of heath, forest, and sand tracks used for ground-based military exercises, including armored vehicle and infantry training by the Royal Netherlands Army.

The site's primary historical significance dates back to World War II. During the German occupation of the Netherlands, a decoy airfield (German: 'Scheinflugplatz') was constructed here. Its purpose was to mimic a real, operational airbase to confuse Allied reconnaissance and, more importantly, to draw bomber attacks away from the genuine and strategically important Fliegerhorst Steenwijk/Havelterberg located a few kilometers to the west. The decoy likely featured mock-up wooden aircraft, fake runways, and simulated lighting to appear active at night. After the war, the entire area, including the site of the former decoy field, was developed into a large military training complex for the Royal Netherlands Army, known as the Johannes Post Kazerne. The NL-0039 designator was likely assigned post-war to a simple airstrip or helicopter landing zone within this training area for military exercises.

None. The site is an essential part of a major, active military installation. There are no plans, discussions, or prospects for reopening it as a civilian or public-use airport. Its use as a military training ground is its sole and long-term purpose.