the base was originally built in WW1, given up between the war, and then during WW2 the germans built the hangars there that are still in use to this day
the SAR diver is a very tall guy, he complained that the Seaking had more headroom and the NH90 requires him to be hunched all the time cause it's roof is to low
It used to be very popular in summer for Fighter pilots from inland to fly to Koksijde (gotta do their hours) , land go to restaurant for some seafood.. take off again and fly back to home base.. And they would all fly pretty much straight over my house for that route..
These days no more fast jets on Koksijde, and the base is going to be shutdown, they move the SAR to a commercial airport.. very likely they'll take the role away from teh miltary and do commercial SAR in the future (hotly debarted subject)
Unfortunately the developers are already chomping at the bit to take the land and stuff it full of buildings like they always do.. the last bit of open space near the coast to be destroyed