14 CINCENT and the Governor of Limburg on 06 November 1967. The AFCENT Community Services (ACS) Shopping Centre opened on 27 August 1968; the gymnasium and Alliance Theatre on 15 October; and the Chapel Centre on 27 October. Construction began, the following April, of the swimming pool and, in December 1969, of the International Allied Officers’ Club and sports field complex. On 13 January 1971 the Dutch Minister of Defence visited the Headquarters as a prelude to the Conference of National Defence Ministers which was scheduled to take place at HQ AFCENT, on 07 April. In August CINCENT hosted HRH Prince Bernhard when he visited the Headquarters. Western European Union Meeting, 1967 P H Henry, USAF, was appointed Base Commander and became responsible for all arrangements in the Netherlands. HQ AFCENT was to be operational in Brunssum by 15 March 1967. At Hendrik Mine, buildings 5, 6 and 7 were extensively adapted to provide office accommodation. Messing facilities were provided at Hendrik Mine and Tapijn Kaserne, in Maastricht. National Support Units would use offices at Emma Mine (at Hoensbroek) until building 23 became available. Construction of new barrack blocks at Hendrik began on 01 November 1966. The move of the Headquarters to South Limburg was completed on time during the period January to March 1967 and on 01 June the official inauguration ceremony took place at Brunssum in the presence of the Dutch Minister of Defence, the Governor of Limburg, SACEUR and many other distinguished guests. The Headquarters complex was named after Field Marshal Hendrik van Nassau-Ouwerkerk, an officer who served with distinction during the reign of William III of Orange. On 19 September 1967 the AFCENT International School opened with over 1 000 pupils and staff from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The official opening ceremony was performed by
On 28 June 1974, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe (HQ AAFCE) was established at Ramstein, Germany. The original intention was to co-locate HQ AAFCE with HQ AFCENT at Brunssum, but the project ran into difficulties over cost-sharing and security arrangements. The NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control System Programme Management Agency (NAPMA) opened at the Brunssum site on 24 August 1979 and this, coupled with development of US storage sites, the planned deployment of cruise missiles and the noise generated by AWACS aircraft flying from Geilenkirchen Airbase, just across the border in Germany, strained relations with some sections of the local population and led to protests against the militarisation of the Province. In 1980, the AFCENT Community Council was established, replacing the old Community Services Committee, and the Morale and Welfare Activities Branch opened. Royal Marechaussee representation in the Headquarters also became operational. The 30th anniversary of the establishment of HQ AFCENT fell in 1983. HM Queen Beatrix visited on 15 March and, on 31 May, a military band concert was held for 15000 spectators in the Limburgia Stadium. A new Peace Establishment came into force on 01 January 1985 followed by a 2-year manpower freeze. Regular