Soesterberg Summer Offensive
The explosive finale of your summer!
The next edition of the Soesterberg Summer Offensive will take place on Saturday, August 28, and Sunday, August 29, 2027.
Soesterberg Summer Offensive 2026
Behind every frontline soldier, dozens of military personnel and civilians stand ready – from support, medical and logistics units. They are people you may not often see, but without whom no mission can succeed.
During the Soesterberg Summer Offensive 2026, we took visitors behind the front lines.
Air Force Square
Soesterberg Air Base is the birthplace of Dutch military aviation. Over 100 years ago, the first Dutch aircraft took off here, after which it grew into an important military base. During the Soesterberg Summer Offensive we bring this history back to life, with various military aircraft on the grounds to admire up close.
- Static display: iconic military aircraft viewed up close.
- Open cockpits of the Fokker F.27 and Breguet Atlantic.
- The Chinook viewed from the inside.
- Conversations with crew from the Air Force squadrons.
- Flypast of the C-130 Hercules and demonstration of the Apache.
Army Square
A large part of our collection consists of Army equipment. In addition to a static display of this collection, a number of vehicles can also be seen in action in the Arena. This year again, a number of special vehicles from the Netherlands and abroad will be joining us as guests!
- Spectacular tank show in the Arena.
- Guest vehicles: including the Leopard 1 bridge-laying tank, Leopard 1 driver training tank, Mammoth all-terrain vehicle and the Leopard 2 recovery tank (Buffel) of the Royal Netherlands Army!
- Strength, technology and history experienced up close with ‘Tanks in the Crosshairs’.
- More than 50 tanks and other military vehicles to be seen in a static display.
- Militaria market with collectibles, books, patches and more!
And more...
- A unique tour of a mobile military field hospital.
- Experiencing the power and sound of military weapons during the blank-firing demonstration.
- An interactive insight into the search techniques of the Veteranen Search Team.
- Unmanned military technology in action with the THeMIS.
- Re-enactment of Cold War conscription, conscript military police and Platoon 3-2 of the National Reserve Corps.
- A unique look behind the scenes in our depot.
- Live restoration of the last Dutch Catalina.
- Cool activities for children, such as laser tag, mini-quad biking and military boot camp.
What did others think?
-
Really amazing to see the tank show!
Marion, mother of 2 children (8 and 11 years) -
The smell, the sound of the tanks... It felt like coming home.
Erik, former military -
We went with friends. Surprisingly fun and educational day out.
Lisa, 27 years old -
A wonderful day with my grandson - unforgettable!
Jan, 68 years old
Soesterberg Summer Offensive
Nightshoot 2026
On Friday evening, 28 August 2026, visitors were treated to a beautiful sunset after a heavy thunderstorm. The photographers captured the most beautiful images of the aircraft on the strip of the former air base.
Aircraft in the spotlight:
- North American ‘Super Sabre’ F-100D
- McDonnell Douglas Phantom II F-4E
- Lockheed Martin F-16BM ‘Orange Jumper’
- Northrop NF-5B ‘Freedom Fighter’
- Lockheed TF-104G ‘Starfighter’
- North American F-86F ‘Sabre’
- Hawker Hunter F.Mk.4
- Fokker S.14 ‘Machtrainer’
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PFM ‘Fishbed’
The date for the next Soesterberg Summer Offensive Nightshoot will be announced as soon as possible.
