Ede Airfield

A combination of environmental regulations and land use priorities. The airfield is located on the Ginkelse Heide (Ginkel Heath), which is part of the 'Veluwe' Natura 2000 site, a highly protected European nature reserve. The strict environmental regulations associated with Natura 2000 status are incompatible with regular civilian flight operations. Furthermore, the area is an active military training ground, which takes precedence over private use.

The site is now a multi-use area with no permanent aviation infrastructure. Its primary uses are:

- **Historical Memorial Site:** It is the central location for the annual Airborne Landings commemoration, where hundreds of paratroopers from various NATO countries perform memorial jumps from historic and modern aircraft in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
- **Military Training Ground:** It is actively used by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, particularly the 11th Airmobile Brigade, for parachute training and other military exercises.
- **Nature Reserve:** As part of the Ginkelse Heide and the larger Veluwe Natura 2000 area, it is managed for nature conservation. A famous flock of sheep grazes the heath to maintain its characteristic landscape.
- **Public Recreation:** The area is open to the public for hiking and cycling.

The site has immense historical significance, primarily related to World War II.

1. **Operation Market Garden (September 1944):** The field, known then as Drop Zone 'Y', was one of the main landing zones for the British 1st Airborne Division on September 18, 1944. Thousands of paratroopers and gliders landed here as part of the ill-fated advance towards the Rhine bridge at Arnhem. This event is a cornerstone of Dutch WWII history and is commemorated annually.

2. **Post-War Use:** After the war, the heath was occasionally used for glider flying ('zweefvliegen') and military parachute exercises.

3. **Ultralight Field (NL-0064):** In more recent decades, a section of the heath was designated as a simple, unpaved strip for ultralight and microlight aircraft, which is what the ICAO code NL-0064 refers to. This was a very small-scale, informal operation.

Effectively zero. The reopening of the site as a civilian airfield is not feasible or planned. The combination of its status as a protected Natura 2000 nature reserve, its vital role as an active military training ground, and its profound importance as a national historical monument and memorial site makes any proposal for reopening for private aviation impossible to approve.