Ockenburg

During May 10 to May 12, 1940, it was the scene of bitter fighting between German airborne forces and Dutch defenders during World War II.

In 1915 already there was airplane-related activity; an airplane may have been constructed in a building on the site, and in May a privately owned plane was moved to Ockenburg, apparently for the purpose of teaching pilots.

Also included was a building along the lines of the Scheepvaarthuis in Amsterdam, which was to be a central national location to organize and showcase travel by plane.

[4] A German formation of one airborne company of Fallschirmjaeger Regiment 2 and a battalion of Air landing troops of IR.65 (22.ID) was envisaged to take the small base by surprise attack.

At Ypenburg the German airborne battalion and follow-up air landing units initially gained some successes, but they were rapidly pushed into defence.

The landing at Ockenburg also resulted in initial German seizure of the base, and which 25 Dutch defenders were killed in action.

Soon, however, the German landing party - no more than around 400 men - were driven off of the pitch and pushed into the dune area between the airfield and the North Sea.