The interbellum

After the cessation of hostilities on 11 November 1918, a number of obligations were imposed on the Germans.

One of these was handing over the aircraft park and parts to the Allies.

Belgium was allocated a large number of aircraft, part of which was stored on the “Wilrijckse Plein”.

Later, the aircraft would be sold to private individuals.

After the war, the "Wilrijckse Plein" site was used again as an airfield. Due to the hostilities, flying activities were virtually non-existent and the Aéro Club d'Anvers came to a standstill. Its members were scattered everywhere and the pilots did their duty at the front.

A large part of the war booty - the German military aircraft were divided among the Allies - was stored in the large sheds that used to house the balloons of the military.

It would take until the 1920 Olympics before things would come to life again. Under the impulse of the Van Migem brothers, Colonel Genotte and Jan Olieslagers, an international fourteen-day meeting was organized that took place between July 17 and August 1, 1920.

Jan, as one of Belgium's “air aces”, called up his colleagues and convinced well-known pilots such as Nungesser, Lecointe, Fonck and others to come to Antwerp. From the Belgian side, in addition to Olieslagers, we also saw Coppens, Van Cotthem and Stampe make their appearance.

King Albert I came to greet the war aces. The prize of the Olympic Games went to Sadi Lecointe, who made the fastest passage at 230 km/h.

The expansion of the Metropool and the construction of the Jan Van Rijswijcklaan meant that the area of the "Wilrijckse Plein" could no longer be used. Finally, in 1921, flying activities were discontinued.

Antwerp, the birthplace of Belgian aviation, was without an airport!