Melsbroek Air Base

Steenokkerzeel, Belgium

Airports

small airport

Melsbroek Air Base

Steenokkerzeel, Belgium

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Destinations

EBMB

ICAO

184 ft

Elevation

TravelerPulse profile

Belgium's primary military air base near Brussels.

Opened

1937

Location

Steenokkerzeel, Belgium

Melsbroek Air Base (ICAO: EBMB) is a Belgian military airfield located in Steenokkerzeel, in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. It sits adjacent to Brussels Airport (Zaventem) and shares some of the surrounding airspace infrastructure, though it operates independently as a military installation under the Belgian Defence component. The base serves as the home of the Belgian Air Component's transport and VIP flight operations, hosting units such as the 15th Wing, which operates transport aircraft including the Airbus A400M and C-130 Hercules. It also supports government and royal flight missions. Melsbroek does not serve commercial passenger traffic and has no public terminal facilities. Its primary role is logistical, humanitarian, and governmental air transport in support of Belgian and NATO operations.

Notable facts

›Home to the Belgian Air Component's 15th Wing transport unit.
›Operates Airbus A400M and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
›Handles VIP and Belgian royal flight missions.
›Located immediately adjacent to Brussels Airport (EBBR/BRU).
›Supports NATO logistics and humanitarian airlift operations.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Belgium's military gateway where defence and diplomacy share the runway

Melsbroek Air Base, located near Steenokkerzeel in the Flemish Brabant province, is a Belgian Air Component military airfield operating adjacent to Brussels Airport. Historically significant as a base during and after World War II, it serves today as the primary hub for Belgian military transport, VIP state flights, and governmental aviation operations. Its dual-use proximity to Brussels Airport makes it a strategically important installation in the heart of Belgium.

Terminals

Military Operations Terminal — Dedicated facility handling Belgian Air Component transport missions, VIP state flights, and official government aircraft movements.

Ground Transport

Taxi services from Steenokkerzeel and surrounding communes
Private vehicle access via the N21 and E19 motorway
Brussels Airport shuttle connections nearby for onward civilian travel
Car rental facilities available at adjacent Brussels Airport

Nearby Hotels

Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel
Holiday Inn Brussels Airport
Novotel Brussels Airport
Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport

Dining

As a restricted military installation, public dining facilities are not available at Melsbroek Air Base. Visitors and personnel typically access restaurants and cafés within the adjacent Brussels Airport complex or in the nearby town of Steenokkerzeel. The broader Zaventem and Steenokkerzeel area offers a range of Belgian brasseries and international dining options.

Traveller Tips

Access to Melsbroek is strictly controlled — ensure all required military or governmental authorisation is arranged well in advance.
Civilian travellers connecting onward should use Brussels Airport (BRU), which shares the airspace and is only minutes away by road.
The N21 road links Steenokkerzeel directly to Zaventem and central Brussels, useful for ground transfers.
Belgian traffic around Brussels Airport can be heavy during peak morning and evening hours — allow extra travel time.

Official website

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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Encyclopaedia

Melsbroek Air Base is a Belgian Air Force facility in Steenokkerzeel, 12 km northeast of Brussels, the capital of Belgium. It is located on the northern side of Brussels Airport, with which it shares runways and ground and air control facilities.

Read full article on Wikipedia