Rotterdam-The Hague
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ICAO Code | EHRD/RTM |
Last Validated | Nov 2018 |
City | Rotterdam |
Position | 51°57'27"N 004°26'30"E |
Runway(s) | 06/24, HEL |
Elevation | -15 ft |
General
In number of passengers, Rotterdam-The Hague Airport is the third busiest airport of The Netherlands, after Amsterdam-Schiphol and Eindhoven. A wide variety of traffic can be seen here, from the regular airliners, like the three Dutch holiday charter companies and British Airways, Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, to light aircraft. A lot of bizjets and props are handled by the KLM Jet Centre at the airport. With the closure of Naval Air Station Valkenburg in 2006, Rotterdam also became a favourable destination for officials visiting the Dutch governmental seat Den Haag (dubbed 'The Hague' in English), to which the airport name was even adapted in 2010. In the old days, the airport was called 'Zestienhoven'.
Recent developments unfortunately involved large-scale fencing along airside ditches, presenting an additional challenge to photographers. At least as bad was the loss of the favourite former spot 1, at the fence along the main apron. New buildings have completely obscured the view there.
Layout
All activity takes place in the southwest corner of the airfield. Westernmost are the flying clubs, next is the terminal, and easternmost are the small private hangars and bizjets. The runway is southwest-northeast.
Getting There
You can get to the airport via bus route 33, which runs from Rotterdam Central Station at regular intervals (up to 6 times an hour). There is also shuttle bus service 50 between the terminal and Meijersplein Randstad Rail railway. A timetable can be found with the link on the right. Spots 9 and 10 are within walking distance from the Meijersplein station of the Randstad Rail railway service.
By car the airport can be reached from the motorway A13 exit or local roads in the northern Rotterdam area.
Around the Airport

Impressive RAF A400 Atlas lining up for departure from runway 06. Shot from spot 6 by Manolito Jaarsma.

Gulfstream IV parked at the Jet Centre ramp and photographed from spot 3. (Maarten Visser sr.)
Frequencies
122.175 | Clearance Delivery and Start-up Control |
118.200 / 362.875 | Tower |
127.025 / 315.825 | Approach |
126.675 | Approach (alt) |
119.700 | Regional Guard |
121.950 | Apron |
110.400 | ATIS |
Based Operators
ANWB Medical Air Assistance | EC135 |
JetNetherlands | Ce525(A) Ce560XL |
Shell Aircraft | Falcon 7X |
Skydive Rotterdam | Cessna 208 |
More Info
Rotterdam Airport | Official website |
Scramble Message Board | Rotterdam Forum |
RET | Public transport timetable (bus and metro) |
Order of Battle Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force/Navy |
Royal Netherlands Air Force Past |