Image

We are open in 2024 from Monday, March 25th through Sunday, November 3rd, daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

THE MOK NAVAL AIR BASE

The history of aviation on Texel begins not with De Vlijt airport in 1937, but in fact reaches back more than a century. The Marine Aviation Service (MLD) opened De Mok Naval Air Base on the south side of the island on 21 August 1917.

Image

1914

It was around 1914 that the navy discovered just how useful aircraft could be for reconnaissance and liaison. A small group of officers had the opportunity to obtain a pilot’s licence and the navy bought its own aircraft. Not just ‘normal’ (wheeled) aircraft, but seaplanes as well.

SEAPLANES

The MLD happened upon De Mokbaai (the Mok Bay in English, or simply De Mok to the locals) while searching for suitable locations for an airbase. This site featured sheltered water with a channel to the Marsdiep tide-race, making it ideal for the then still-fragile ‘kites’. De Mok was also close to Den Helder, the Netherlands’ most important naval port.

De Mok hosted mainly seaplanes. Initially wheeled planes occasionally landed on a small field behind the shifting dike, but this was no longer necessary once De Kooy naval airbase became operational south of Den Helder.

Seaplanes saw useful service in the Dutch East Indies in the 1920s and 30s, with distances long and airports scarce. Crew members underwent part of their training at De Mok.

Image

ATTACKED

The air base was attacked several times by German aircraft during May 1940, but without any casualties. Just before the Dutch capitulation, army command decided to blow up the planes and buildings to stop them falling into German hands.

During the war the occupying forces used De Mok as a modest base for their seaplanes, and an anti-aircraft battery was built near the base.

Image
Image

AFTER LIBERATION

After liberation De Mok was left completely destroyed. But because the role of seaplanes had had its day, the air base was no longer rebuilt to accommodate them. Nevertheless the site is still used by the Dutch army, now as a Marine Corps training camp.

The Aviation & War Museum features a large-scale model of De Mok, showing the situation just before the Second World War. The history of the airfield is also illustrated through photographs, scale models and a variety of objects.

THEMES IN OUR MUSEUM

AVIATION & WAR MUSEUM TEXEL

Postweg 126
1795 JS
De Cocksdorp (Texel)
Tel: 0222-311689

OPENING HOURS

We are open in 2024 from Monday, March 25th through Sunday, November 3rd, daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

  • Tickets are available at the counter, reservation is not necessary
  • Adults € 8.00
  • Children from 6 to 12 years € 5.00
  • Discounts apply to groups, see below

DOG WITH YOU?

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed inside the museum.
However, service dogs are permitted inside.

3D AUDIO TOUR BUNKER DE VLIJT

  • Every Wednesday to Saturday at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
    On Sunday only at 3:00 PM.
  • For adults only, from 13 years old
  •  Duration maximum 1 hour including the walk there and back
  • Reservations are not possible, capacity is limited
  • Be present well in advance for an explanation

Together with a museum employee you walk to the bunker opposite the museum. In the bunker you will be taken into the conversations that were held there during the 2 most crucial days of the Georgian Uprising. Jetty Bakker also tells in a timeline her memories of the war on Texel and about her work for the Georgians. You will receive an explanatory handout in advance with a description of the dire circumstances in which the Georgian soldiers found themselves during those days. The 3D audio tour can be done in both Dutch, German and English.

GROUPS

Would you like to visit our museum with a group (from 12 people)? Then we appreciate it if you make a reservation via groepen@lomt.nl. You can also indicate whether you would like a guided tour.

Social media

Image

PLEASE CONTACT US

Invalid Input
Vul een e-mail adres in.
Invalid Input
Invalid Input
ANBI
Image

Meer informatie

ANBI
Copyright LOMT.nl - Website door WEBJONGENS i.s.m. Zilte Zaken