Airfield

In the early 1930s, a 40-hectare airfield was built in the 'Kleyne Vlakte'. Where you are now were the airport buildings. In the beginning, the airfield was mainly used as a glider airfield base and for air baptisms, flying lessons and sightseeing flights. At the start of World War II, the site came into the hands of the Belgian Air Force. After German air raids in May 1940, the Germans captured the airfield a few days later and expanded it westwards to 150 ha. From here they used their fighter planes to escort the bombers to England during the Battle of England. But it soon became apparent that the airbase was too vulnerable to British bombing raids and was only used as an emergency landing site. At the time of the liberation, the airfield served as a supply airport for the British. After World War II, Sabena, KLM and British Airways operated the airport until 1960. In 1947 some 7000 landings were recorded here. The concession expired in 1962 and all buildings were demolished. Shortly after, a karting circuit was built on this site and remained in place until the end of the 1990s.

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