Air watchtowers
Air watchtowers from the Cold War in the Netherlands
1950-1968
Eyes and ears of aerial defence
A history of air defence against low-flying enemy aircraft in the Netherlands during the early years of the Cold War.
Between 1950 and 1968 thousands of volunteers and military staff of the Dutch Observer Corps (Korps Luchtwachtdienst) watched and listened for covertly approaching Soviet aircraft. The Corps was an addition to the radarsystem of the time.
The Dutch Corps was modelled according to the example of the British Royal Observer Corps.
Volunteer observers on air watchtower Benschop, 1954. Source: National Archives of the Netherlands
Operations Centre Rotterdam, 1954. Source: National Archives of the Netherlands
Air observation network
A nationwide network of aircraft observation post was built as a detection and warning system against low-flying hostile aircraft during the Cold War.
Preferably, these posts were placed on top of high-rise buildings. Otherwise, freestanding prefab concrete towers were built, the air watchtowers.
Male volunteers served on the observation posts and female volunteers in the regional operations centres.
Watchtowers
The network operated only briefly. Due to faster aircraft, improved radar and changed defence strategies (integration within NATO air defence) the network became redundant in the late1960s.
After decommissioning, most of the once existing nearly 300 posts and associated buildings have been demolished.
Air watchtower Spanbroek, 1954. Source: National Archives of the Netherlands
Air watchtower Nieuw Namen. Photo: Sandra van Lochem
Relics from the Cold War
The remaining freestanding towers, posts on buildings and command centres are unique relics of our recent military heritage.
The history of this short-lived but remarkable part in the history of the air defence of the Netherlands during the Cold War remains alive by the remaining towers and the stories of the people who operated the towers and the command centres.
Similar observer corps existed in several other countries at both sides of the Iron Curtain.
Book 2022
Luchtwachttorens uit de Koude Oorlog
(Air watchtowers from the Cold War)
Beautifully designed by Beukers Scholma and published by nai010 publishers
Luchtwachttorens uit de Koude Oorlog
Author: Sandra van Lochem
- € 49,95
- ISBN 978-94-6208-690-6
- hardcover, 22 x 32 cm
- 400 pages
- richly illustrated: 650 photograps, illustrations, maps.
- including catalog of all 276 posts and operations centres
- including brief overview of similar observer corps in other countries
- language: Dutch with English summary
- design Beukers Scholma
- 2022, nai010 publishers
Order
The book can be ordered from bookstores, online stores and from nai010 publishers
