Aviation Monument 'The Balloon Column'

The balloon column, the oldest aviation monument in the Netherlands.

On January 18, 1871, a (helium) balloon landed on the heathlands north of Merselo. The balloon had ascended from Paris. At that time, Paris was besieged by Prussian troops and cut off from the outside world. By launching hot air balloons, contact could be maintained with the unoccupied part of France. However, one of these balloons ended up in a higher air layer and drifted northeast. The balloon had a diameter of 10 meters and was 25 meters high. On board, in addition to the three-person crew, there was secret correspondence for the French government, which had fled to Bordeaux. Furthermore, there were 150 kilos of letters and packages, 3 carrier pigeons, and 4 bottles of wine.

The balloon descended in Merselo. When the French learned from the farmers that they were in the Netherlands, they felt safe and let all the gas escape. They reported that they had ascended in Paris at 3 AM the previous night and that they wanted to travel to Maastricht by train as quickly as possible to continue their journey from there. After all, they had to deliver the secret correspondence to Minister Gambetta. After having a meal, the three Frenchmen were taken by diligence to the station and departed with the folded balloon to Maastricht. As a farewell, the mayor received 100 francs for the poor in Venray.

On January 18, 1896, exactly 25 years after the landing, the balloon column was unveiled in memory, in the middle of the heath. The small square obelisk now stands on an elevation, surrounded by trees, and is the oldest aviation monument in the Netherlands.

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