In poor visibility, the pilot landed on the Varkenoord football pitches near the Feyenoord stadium. He continued to the Katshoek heliport without his passengers, so customs officers dutifully sped to this site. The groundskeeper complained it was the third helicopter landing on his turf already but then it was a designated alternate landing ground. Photo by: Cock Tholens / Stadsarchief Rotterdam

'Opening of the Helihaven.' The Sabena chopper arrived from the Keukenhof tulip gardens as there was talk about springtime Brussels - Rotterdam - Keukenhof - Haarlem - Zandvoort services, although it was really more about local sightseeing flights, with Sabena finding the Dutch more enthusiastic about its helicopters than the Belgian public. Flights for the 1955 bulb season were cancelled with the airline complaining about the high trees at the Haarlem site. It is now a football pitch, although still called Helikopterveld when used by the cricket club from across the road. Photo by: Cees de Boer / Noord-Hollands Archief