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Disappeared military airfield

Disappeared military airfield

Highlight • Historical Site

Disappeared military airfield

Name: Disappeared military airfield
Rating: 2

Recommended by 13 hikers

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Location: Hoegaarden, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Best Hikes to Disappeared military airfield

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1. Phantom aircraft – Disappeared military airfield loop from Beauvechain

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Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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2. Phantom aircraft – Disappeared military airfield loop from Meldert

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

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3. Disappeared military airfield – Meldertbos loop from L'Écluse

7.23km

01:53

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Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

September 25, 2025

Want to grab your attention? Hitler once landed here. Read on.

The history of this vanished military airfield is, after all, much more fascinating than the sign suggests. The runway built here in the hamlet of "Les Burettes" was constructed by the Belgians in 1940 and was named "Le Culot East" (and "Y-10") by the Americans after the liberation. "Le Culot East" is also the name on the information board. Some additional information: hangarflying.eu/erfgoedsites/first-wing-historical-center

BUT, Les Burettes airfield has a very special role and history as a "secret emergency airfield" that fit into a broader strategy.

A few tidbits? When Schaffen was bombed, some aircraft managed to escape and land at "Les Burettes." For a while, anyway. In 1942, wooden airplanes were stationed here.

And so, on October 23, 1940, at 4:23 PM, a certain Adolf Hitler landed here, at Les Burettes, on his way to a meeting with the Spanish dictator Franco.

A fascinating story and report with much more insider information and astonishing facts can be found at opstapinhetlandvandedijleendedemer.home.blog/category/beauvechain-les-burettes

You'll never see this place the same way again.

Translated by Google •

September 25, 2025

For the construction of this airfield, the original St. Ermelindis tree, where, according to legend, a true miracle occurred, was felled. And despite several attempts, no new one has been planted yet. But the spot where Ermelindis is said to have once stuck her staff into the ground can be found at komoot.com/nl-nl/highlight/8024822 - with greetings from an observant hiker ;)

Translated by Google •

Els Q

September 2, 2023

Information board and marking of the disappeared military airfield from WWII on the Bevekom plateau.

Translated by Google •

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Informations

Elevation 140 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 6 November

15°C

11°C

0 %

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Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

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Location: Hoegaarden, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

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Disappeared military airfield

1. Phantom aircraft – Disappeared military airfield loop from Beauvechain

2. Phantom aircraft – Disappeared military airfield loop from Meldert

3. Disappeared military airfield – Meldertbos loop from L'Écluse

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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