Leeuwarden Air Base

Leeuwarden Air Base
Vliegbasis Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, Friesland in Netherlands
An aerial view of Leeuwarden Air Base during 2018
Motto Amicis inimicis promptus
(Latin for 'Prompt friends become enemies')
Site information
TypeMilitary airfield
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Netherlands Air and Space Force (RNLASF)
ConditionOperational
Location
Leeuwarden
Location in the Netherlands
Coordinates53°13′43″N 05°45′38″E / 53.22861°N 5.76056°E / 53.22861; 5.76056
Site history
Built1938 (1938) (as civil airport)
In use1949 – present
EventsExercise Frisian Flag (annual)
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: LWR, ICAO: EHLW, WMO: 062700
Elevation0.91 metres (3 ft 0 in) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23 2,452.1 metres (8,045 ft) Asphalt
09/27 1,999.7 metres (6,561 ft) Asphalt
Source: Military Aeronautical Information Publication Netherlands

Leeuwarden Air Base (Dutch: Vliegbasis Leeuwarden) is a military airbase used by the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force (RNLASF) - Dutch: Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu), (IATA: LWR, ICAO: EHLW). The airbase was formerly one of the two F-16 Fighting Falcon bases of the RNLASF. The airbase lies northwest of the capital of Friesland, Leeuwarden.

Leeuwarden Air Base is also one of the three military airbases (together with Gilze-Rijen Air Base and Volkel Air Base) that used to organise the twice-in-three-years Luchtmachtdagen ('Air Force Days') of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, consisting of air shows and static exhibits. In 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2016 Leeuwarden Air Base hosted these public demonstration days.

Since Covid, the Luchtmachtdagen have not been held, and the demonstration flights of the F-16 and AH-64 Apache have also been halted.