Bergen Airfield

The airfield was officially and permanently closed by the Dutch Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) because it no longer met modern safety and regulatory requirements. The closure was the culmination of several issues: the bankruptcy of the operating company (Exploitatiemaatschappij Vliegveld Bergen) in 2011, which led to a lack of funds for necessary maintenance and upgrades. This was compounded by strong, long-standing opposition from local residents and environmental groups regarding noise pollution and the airfield's impact on the adjacent protected nature reserve.

The site is currently derelict and non-operational for any form of aviation. The runways and taxiways are still visible but are cracked, overgrown, and in a state of decay. The land is owned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The area has been largely reclaimed by nature and is now part of the 'Noordhollands Duinreservaat', a protected Natura 2000 site. It is a popular location for walkers, cyclists, and history enthusiasts who come to explore the abandoned runways and the numerous WWII-era bunkers that are scattered across the property. There is no permanent new function for the site, and its protected status severely restricts any potential development.

Bergen Airfield has a rich and significant history, particularly from the WWII era.
- **Pre-WWII:** It was constructed in 1937-1938 as a military airfield for the Dutch Army Aviation Brigade to bolster national defenses.
- **World War II:** On May 10, 1940, the first day of the German invasion of the Netherlands, the airfield was a primary strategic target. It was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, and most of the Dutch Fokker D.XXI fighter aircraft stationed there were destroyed on the ground. During the subsequent occupation, the German Luftwaffe expanded the airfield significantly, renaming it 'Fliegerhorst Bergen'. It became an important fighter base, primarily for units like Jagdgeschwader 52, tasked with intercepting Allied bomber fleets. As a result, it was frequently targeted by Allied bombing raids throughout the war. Numerous bunkers and other defensive structures from this period remain on the site.
- **Post-WWII & Civilian Use:** After the war, it was used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force ('Vliegbasis Bergen') as a depot and for training before military activities ceased in the 1960s. It then transitioned into a popular general aviation airfield, hosting flying clubs (like the Noord-Hollandse Vliegclub), glider flying, parachuting, and private light aircraft operations until its final closure.

The prospects for reopening Bergen Airfield are extremely low and generally considered non-existent. Despite several campaigns and initiatives by aviation enthusiasts and former users to revive the airfield for general aviation, these efforts have consistently failed. The primary obstacles include:
- **Political Opposition:** The local municipality of Bergen is firmly against reopening the airfield.
- **Community Resistance:** Strong and organized opposition from local residents and environmental groups due to noise and ecological concerns.
- **Environmental Protection:** Its location within a protected Natura 2000 nature reserve presents insurmountable regulatory hurdles for obtaining the necessary permits.
- **Financial Cost:** The cost to restore the infrastructure to meet current aviation safety and environmental standards would be prohibitive.
Given these factors, there are no active or viable plans to reopen the airport.