Herman van den Boom, Air Watch Towers in The Netherlands

Air Watch Towers in The Netherlands

“Nothing will escape the vigilant” was the motto of the Air Force Watch Service (KLD), which was under the command of the Dutch Royal Air Force from 1950 to 1968. Under the influence of the Cold War, a network of 276 lookouts towards Russia was set up to ensure the security of the country. At that time, the radar system could not detect low-flying aircraft below 1500 m.

Half of the watch towers were placed on top of existing buildings such as windmills and factories, while the remaining 138 were specially designed as separate towers. The requirements were a short construction time, low maintenance and cost savings. The idea was to set up a national observational net-work.while the remaining 138 were specially designed as separate towers. The requirements were a short construction time, low maintenance and cost savings. The idea was to set up a national observational network.

From 1951 to the late 1950s, a total of 138 towers in 23 variations of heights from 4 to 32.5 meters were built throughout the Netherlands. The different heights were obtained by the 38 cm x 38 cm honeycombs. All the rest of the structure was identical. A closed base above which rose the open honey-comb elements. Inside, a staircase led to the 3 x 3 m open observation platform with a small protective shelter and a 1.5 m high parapet. Today, wind and weather have left their mark, so that the air watch towers in Herman van den Boom’s photos each have a different character, despite all their superficial similarities.

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Language
NL/EN/DE

Publisher
Verbeke Foundation

Text
Anne Kotzan

Editing NL
Marianne Kleijwegt

ISBN 9789464000054

2021
90 pagina’s
Hardcover
24 x 17 cm