Waalhaven

The Waalhaven is a harbour in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It used to be home to an airport, Vliegveld Waalhaven (Waalhaven Airport). It was the second civilian airport in the Netherlands and was opened in 1920. Part of it was also in use by the Dutch military's 3rd JaVA Fokker G.I squadron in 1940.

Cierva C.30 autogyro in 1935
Waalhaven Airport in 1932, with the Graf Zeppelin in the background.

Amongst others, the N.V. Koolhoven aircraft factory was located at this airport. The factory and airport were destroyed in 1940 by the Dutch army so it could not get into the hands of the Germans. After the Second World War, the city was in a prospect of finding an airport, but the existing airfield at Waalhaven was written off the list, because the damage that was caused to prevent the airfield's capture was so great it was considered not worth repairing. An industrial zone now lies on the location of the former airport, with aviation having moved to Zestienhoven Airport.


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