Amsterdam Stadionkade

52°20'30"N 004°51'34"E

Runway - unknown - Dirt/Grass

Amsterdam Stadionkade was a small airfield on the southern outskirt of Amsterdam.
It existed just after the end of World War II. Because the infrastructure in the west of the Netherlands almost ravaged or even completely stolen by the Germans, a fast and reliable means of communications was needed by the Netherlands Government. One way of doing this was by setting up communications flights to several cities in the country. Because Amsterdam Schiphol was still in ruins (it had been bombed flat by German and Allied raids) a quick solution was needed. At the time the city limits of Amsterdam stopped just south of the Olympic Stadium at the edge of the city. Across the water, next to the road to Amstelveen, a small airfield was constructed on lands known locally as 'the sandland'


Capt. Nienhuis lands the first Auster AOP3 of 6 Dutch Auster Sqn in Amsterdam on 5 May 1945 (Photo: collection Nederlands Instituut voor Militaire Historie)

On the Dutch website 'Verhalen van vroeger' (Stories of the past) Pauline van Proosdij-Hegeman recalled: "We could see the aircraft land and take off from our windows. I also recall seeing a double decker (probably a de Havilland DH 89 Dominie - RonaldV) which was too heavy to take off again. It was later dismantled and taken elsewhere."
Highlight for the airfield was the first post-war celebration of Queens Day on 31 August. Its main event took place at the Olympic Stadium and for the occasion all Dutch Auster aircraft were at the airfield.


Austers at Amsterdam Stadionkade, taken on 31 August 1945 (geschiedenisvanzuidholland.nl).


A photo of Amsterdam Stadionkade, probably taken in November or December 1945 (Verhalenvanvroeger.nl).

No.6 (Dutch) Auster Squadron was stationed here between May 5 and June 17, when -on request of the Dutch Government- KLM took over the service. The Auster Squadron disbanded the same day. The service, which ran between Amsterdam and Gilze-Rijen via Zeist, was terminated when Amsterdam Schiphol became limited operational by the end of the year.

Because of heavy urban development in the post-war years nothing remains of this airfield.