Leeuwarden

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ICAO Code EHLW/LWR
Last Validated Apr 2025
City Leeuwarden
Position 53°13'43"N 005°45'38"E
Runway(s) 05/23, 09/27
Elevation 4 ft

General

Leeuwarden is the home base of the famous 322squadron, equipped with the F-35, the first ones arriving on the 31st of October 2019. Leeuwarden is a good base to spot at, as there are some good places to take pictures. Best times are of course during Frisian Flag and during the Fighter Weapon Instructor Training exercises. All this has one disadvantage: many spots are on farmers' lands, and they obviously do not appreciate disturbance to their business. So, stay out of all the fields around the base, people may really get angry if they see you on their property.

Layout

The base has two runways, the main one is southwest-northeast (redesignated 05/23 from 06/24 mid October 2013) and the secondary and shorter one is east-west. There is a taxiway all around the base with dispersals and shelters along it.

Getting There

You can take a couple of buses from the main railway station in Leeuwarden. Take a bus to Jelsum for spots 1 to 3 and to Marssum for spots 4 and 5. The Southside of the airbase is quite close the A31 highway, take exit 22, Marssum

Around the Airport

1Spottershill - Marssum

Starting with the Marssum side which is closest to Highway A31, there is an official spotter's location. The spotter's corner is situated just southeast of the short final of runway 05. It is on a small road, just outside the village. Look at Google Maps for “Spottersbult baankop 05 EHLW”. This is the best place to take pictures at Leeuwarden AB. You can park your car here and make great shots of the aircraft from the small hill. From the hill, you can take pictures of the aircraft taxiing out from the “Southside” as the former 323sq area is called. Aircraft will come taxiing from the right. Under colder weather conditions it is also very well possible to take pictures of for example 322sq F-35s coming from the Northside, just when the line up on the runway. In the summer there might be quite a bit of heat haze, this place is best on a cold day with wind coming from the east. If the aircraft are taking off towards you, using runway 23, they tend to break to avoid the village. Sometimes great banking shots can be made then. Furthermore, some serials of aircraft on the south apron can be read from this position.

2Bitgumerdyk

When late missions are flown and the sun is on the other side of the runway, you might want to back to the Bitgumerdyk. If you pass by the farm, landing shots can be made with the Leeuwarden skyline in the background

3Towards runway 09

This spot is halfway the “Jan Minnesdykje” and here pictures of landing aircraft on runway 09 can be made, or transport aircraft taking of from runway 27. Unfortunately the spot at the end of the road is off-limits nowadays. It provides a great overview of the taxiway but security is tight and you will be soon be sent away by our friends of the KMar (Dutch Carabinieri)

4Jelsum - evening

In the late afternoon, you can position yourself around this spot at “Pieter Rindersreedsje” in the village of Jelsum. This is where you can take pictures of aircraft approaching Runway 23. There is a parking spot here as well. This spot is not often used.

5Jelsum - During the day

This spot covers both the landings of 27 and 23. Runway 23 is mostly used for landings from this side. Park your car on the small road next to the N357 and position yourself along this small road. Crossing the N357 by foot is forbidden nowadays. There is a cycle path leading to the north where you can also position yourself for some decent landing shots.

6Main gate

At the main gate, a couple of aircraft are preserved. Unfortunately, they are located behind the gate and only the Meteor can be seen from the outside.

Morning missions give the best light for landing shots at spot 1. (Frank Noort)

Special visitor from Alaska as seen from the cycle path near spot5 (Frank Noort)

Frequencies

362.525 / 125.917Ground
344.850 / 120.705Tower
284.475 / 132.025Approach / RAPCON North
339.700Arrival
387.025 / 140.775322sq / 323sq Operations
140.875Frisian Flag Operations
128.355 / 259.250Dutch Mil (Outside tower hours)

Based Operators

306sqMQ-9
322sqF-35A

Preserved

98+62/'56 red'Su-20, on base near operations building, in Soviet colours
D-8318F-104G, inside gate on pole
I-320Meteor T7, inside gate, temporarily stored
J-228F-16A, inside gate, on pole
N-138Hunter F4, inside gate on pole
'804'MiG-21SPS on base near operations building. Ex 22+40

More Info

AGLThe homepage of the Aviation Group Leeuwarden
Scramble Message BoardLeeuwarden forum

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