Nationaal Militair Museum – AviationMuseum

The Nationaal Militair Museum in Soest is a leading institution in the Netherlands for military history. With its vast collection of aircraft, military vehicles, weapons, and interactive exhibits, it offers a thorough and engaging exploration of Dutch military history, from the early wars to modern-day peacekeeping missions.

Nationaal Militair Museum

Verlengde Paltzerweg 1

3768 MX Soest

Netherlands

www.nmm.nl

info@nmm.nl

+31 85 003 6000

Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 17:00

During Dutch school holidays they’re also open on Mondays.

Admission

Gift shop

Aircraft collection

Dogfight with Northrop NF-5 Freedom Fighter, Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, Hawker Hunter and Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, NMM Soest

H-20

250/V

B-3107

D-663

B-37

56-1032/FC-032

A-10

X-24

T-443

266

221

C-10

J-215

J-226

I-69

N-144

6-43

FGA-50/131/D

O-36

429

L2-38

D-8022

D-8245

201/V

77-0132/CR

2126

–

M-464

52-5385/FU-385

Q-283

H-307

K-3020

53-6612/P-226

134/V

H-1

3W-B

Aerospatiale SE3160 Alouette III

Brequet 1050 Atlantic

Brewster B-339D Buffalo (replica)

Boeing CH-47D Chinook

Bolkow Bo-105CB-4

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger

de Havilland DH.82a Tiger Moth

Dornier Do-24T-3

Douglas C-47A Dakota

Farman HF-20 (replica)

Fokker D.VII

Fokker D.XXI (replica)

Fokker F.27-300M

General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon

General Dynamics F-16A Fighting Falcon (cockpit)

Gloster Meteor F.4

Hawker Hunter F.4

Hawker Sea Furry Mk.50

Hawker Sea Hawk FGA.6

Hiller OH-23C Raven

Koolhoven F.K.51 (replica)

Lockheed 12A

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

Lockheed F-104G Starfighter (on pole)

Lockheed SP-2H Neptune

McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle

Mil Mi-2T

Mittelwerk GmbH V-2 Rocket

North American B-25J Mitchell

North American F-86F Sabre

North American F-86K Sabre (on pole)

North American P-51K Mustang

Northrop NF-5A Freedom Fighter

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Sikorsky UH-34J

Supermarine Spitfire LF.IXc

Supermarine Spitfire LF.IX (replica)

Overview of the Nationaal Militair Museum:

Mission and Focus:
- The Nationaal Militair Museum aims to preserve and share the history of the Dutch Armed Forces, including their role in national defense and their involvement in international conflicts. The museum is focused on educating the public about the impact of military history on society and culture.
- It provides a balanced view of military history, including both victories and defeats, heroism and tragedy, and the changing role of the military in society.
Exhibits and Collections:
- The Nationaal Militair Museum’s extensive collection is organized into several major themes, such as military technology, warfare tactics, and the personal stories of soldiers. Some of the key highlights include:
  - Military Aircraft: One of the museum’s most impressive collections is its wide variety of aircraft, including both historic military planes and helicopters. Visitors can see iconic aircraft from different periods, including World War II planes, post-war jet aircraft, and modern combat helicopters.
  - Tanks and Military Vehicles: The museum showcases numerous military vehicles, such as tanks, armored cars, and trucks, reflecting the evolution of land warfare technology. There are vehicles used in both World War I and II as well as in modern conflicts.
  - Weapons: The Nationaal Militair Museum features a range of small arms, artillery, and heavy weapons from different time periods, showing the progression of weaponry through history.
  - Uniforms and Gear: Historical uniforms, personal equipment, and gear used by soldiers throughout the centuries are on display, illustrating how soldiers’ roles and duties have evolved over time.
  - Naval Exhibits: The museum includes exhibits on the Dutch navy, showcasing naval technology, ship models, and historical artifacts related to maritime military history.
  - Memorials and Personal Stories: The museum also focuses on the human side of military history, including personal stories of soldiers, both Dutch and international, as well as memorials to those who have served and sacrificed in conflicts.
Interactive Exhibits and Experiences:
- The Nationaal Militair Museum is well-known for its interactive exhibits, which include touchscreens, virtual reality displays, and immersive environments that let visitors experience military life in a more hands-on way. These interactive experiences aim to engage visitors of all ages, making learning about military history both educational and fun.
- Some exhibits even allow visitors to explore military vehicles up close, such as sitting inside tanks or aircraft cockpits (when available).
Educational Programs:
- The museum offers various educational programs designed for school groups, students, and military enthusiasts. These programs include guided tours, workshops, and special events focused on military history, engineering, and strategy.
- The museum also provides resources for teachers and students to explore military history in a more structured manner, focusing on specific topics like WWI, WWII, or the modern military.
Airborne Operations and WWII:
- As part of its collection, the museum highlights the history of the Dutch Airborne Forces, particularly their role in World War II. The museum offers extensive information on the Battle of Arnhem and the Dutch resistance during the war.
- Special attention is paid to the Dutch military involvement in international peacekeeping missions, with displays of the contributions of Dutch forces in post-war conflicts like those in Bosnia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
Temporary Exhibitions:
- The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that explore specific aspects of military history. These can cover topics ranging from military innovation to personal accounts of soldiers, and even international conflicts.
- The exhibitions often include rare artifacts, artifacts on loan from other museums, and thematic displays that offer new perspectives on familiar subjects.
Visitor Experience:
- Located in Soest, the Nationaal Militair Museum is situated in a large, modern facility with spacious galleries and high ceilings, allowing for an immersive viewing experience. The museum also includes a café and a gift shop, where visitors can purchase books, memorabilia, and educational resources.
- The museum is designed to be accessible to families, offering activities for children and interactive learning opportunities that make military history engaging for younger audiences.
History of the Museum:
- The Nationaal Militair Museum was established in 2014, after the merger of several smaller military museums. It is a part of the Dutch Ministry of Defence, and its collection has been carefully curated and expanded over the years.
- The museum’s main building is located on the Soesterberg Airbase, which was a key military site during the Cold War. The historical significance of the base is reflected in the museum’s exhibitions, which emphasize both military heritage and Dutch defense history.
Partnerships and Collaborations:
- The Nationaal Militair Museum collaborates with other institutions, including military organizations and historical societies, to ensure that its exhibits are as accurate and comprehensive as possible. It also works with veterans’ associations to tell the personal stories of those who have served in the military.

The Nationaal Militair Museum (NMM) is a museum that focuses on the Dutch Armed Forces in past, present and future, with extra attention to the collections of the Royal Netherlands Army and Royal Netherlands Air Force derived from the Legermuseum from Delft and the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum from Soesterberg which were merged into the NMM.

The NMM’s collection includes approximately 400,000 objects from the Dutch National Art Collection, ranging from arrowheads from the Stone Age, through swords and armour from the Middle Ages to the current weapon systems of the Dutch armed forces. There are planes, guns and tanks, including seven different fighter jets in a ‘dogfight’, a Leopard 1V and 2 battle tank, and an M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). A top piece in the collection is the V2, the rocket the Germans used at the end of the Second World War from the north of the Netherlands to attack the Allies in the south of the Netherlands, Belgium and England. This was the first operational and controllable rocket. The Netherlands was the first country in the world from which it was deployed.