Today the airport of Groningen has existed in Elde for ninety years. The airport development was not without a struggle. “At the time, that was a very long battle between all kinds of municipalities around Groningen because they all wanted an airport,” says Doewe Pelleboer of the Ol Eel Historical Society.
The airport was officially opened on May 23, 1931. The idea of establishing an airport in the north of the country arose some years ago. “KLM has contacted the municipality of Groningen to see if an airport can be built somewhere in the north,” Pelibur told RTV Drenthe.
Site selection was challenging, according to Pelleboer. “Thanks to then-local councilor Bähler-Boerma, I finally became an Elde. I offered a position and support in that sports pilot Haijo Hindriks and the mayor of Groningen at the time.”
the lawn
The opening was a special event at the time. “There was an entire air show, including foreign planes. 23,000 people attended,” Pelleboer says.
The bustle turned to mourning when his Haijo Hendriks crashed less than a month and a half after opening. There is a memorial stone at the entrance to the departure hall at Groningen Eddy Airport in memory of.
At first, says Belpur, the airport was a large lawn. “In the winter it was very humid and there was very little flight. There are pictures of skiing at the airport in the winter.”
The idea of establishing an airport in the north of the country was born in 1927:
