FORT NOVOSEL, Ala. - Limousines are a rarity on military installations, especially one donning a layer of bright orange paint, unless you live or work on Fort Novosel, Alabama. For decades, flight students from the Netherlands have cruised the home of Army Aviation in style leaving the rest of us wondering- what is up with that orange car?
Orange has been the national color of the Netherlands for centuries. The Dutch pay homage to their royal family - the House of Orange- by wearing orange to everything from football matches to formal events. The lineage began with the famous William of Orange, who was crowned Prince of Orange in 1544. Even the mode of transportation here in America, for the Dutch flight students, needed to be “Of Orange” according to Dutch Lt. Martijn van der Elsen.
The current orange limo does not go unnoticed here on Fort Novosel, but the one you see today is generations away from the original.
“The first orange vehicle, maybe 20 years ago, was just a four door Cadillac. The students then found the car, decorated it with paint, LED lights and a disco ball,” Van der Elsen said. “They drove together with the entire class to academics, traveled to new cities, and just drove around the local towns on the weekends. Each class would purchase it from the class before them and add new accessories to leave their own mark. Eventually it broke down beyond repair, so they dissembled it and sent it back home where it stays on display. “
Shortly after sending the Cadillac back to the Netherlands, a stretch limousine was purchased by the next class and painted the famous shade of orange. The “Dutch Limo” officially became a tradition. This second-generation limousine lived on for many years at (then) Fort Rucker according to Van der Elsen.
Back in the Netherlands, the original vehicles remain on display at a Dutch airbase. The car carries memories to some, but also a longing for future opportunities to hopeful aviators as well.
Van der Elsen said, “Each morning at the squadron, we would look at the orange Cadillac on display and think about heading to Fort Rucker, or Novosel now, and we really wanted to do that as well.”
The current class arrived at Fort Novosel and there was no orange vehicle. They knew that the tradition needed to live on. Van der Elsen said, “We got here, and the limo had broken down and was being sent back. We knew that we needed to find one of our own.”
“We found this limo on Facebook Marketplace for practically nothing, spray painted it neon orange, but it faded quick because of the sun. So we got some exterior paint, and it has stuck on. It isn’t going anywhere now,” said Van der Elsen. “We also installed a fancy horn that plays our national anthem. It is pretty sweet.”
Each class sells the limo to the following class for about $100 per person. Once the vehicle is fully paid for, within a year or two, that money begins going towards maintenance and accessories to keep the limo tradition going strong.
“The limo is just for fun and to have a bit of our Dutch culture here with us in Alabama. We all have our own cars to drive as well but for going to the flightline or even weekend adventures, we love to fill all 9 seats and share the ride together,” explained Van der Elsen.
The Dutch flight students truly enjoy seeing the excitement the vibrant car brings to people of all ages as they drive by.
“Many times, little kids will see the bright orange limo and get so excited to hear the horn of our national anthem. If you want to hear the horn as you drive by, just wave and we will honk!”
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