Conservator seeks owner of 1970s miner's badge and sports medal found in Belgium

A conservator discovered a miner's badge and a cross-country running medal from 1972 in the Munstervallei, a nature area between Munsterbilzen and Bilzen in Belgium. Yvan Bertjens found the items, believed to belong to the same person, while using a metal detector during preparations for new tree planting.

The miner's badge, marked with number 7281, originates from the Winterslag mine. Bertjens explained that miners were required to carry these badges for attendance tracking, making its presence in the valley a puzzle as miners typically handled them with care.

The veldloop (cross-country running) medal from 1972 features sponsors such as Coca-Cola and Kredietbank, indicating a large-scale event. Bertjens speculates the race might have been organized for miners as part of sports club initiatives to maintain their physical fitness. He theorizes the owner might have lost the badge near a parking area or bicycle rack while leaving the event.

Bertjens hopes to reunite the badge and medal with their original owner or their relatives. He stated, "Perhaps a family member or someone will say, yes, that looks familiar, my father had that, or my grandfather. You never know." Anyone who recognizes the miner's badge number 7281 from Winterslag or the 1972 running medal is encouraged to contact the editorial team at Radio 2 Limburg.

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Je moest die badge verplicht mee naar beneden nemen, zodat ze wisten of die persoon aanwezig of afwezig was