What lies in Limburg's mine shafts after decades? 'It's a scar, but one we are proud of'

Thirty-four years after Limburg's last coal mine closed, a lingering question remains: what lies buried in the subterranean depths?

Radio 2 Limburg reporter Bjorn Verhoeven investigated the vast underground network, which once stretched for hundreds of kilometers and was the lifeblood of the region for nearly a century. The closure of the final mine in Heusden-Zolder on September 30, 1992, marked the end of an era, a period that tragically saw an estimated 930 miners lose their lives.

Contrary to the belief that the extensive tunnels had collapsed under their own weight after pumps were shut down and groundwater flooded them, divers have discovered a surprising truth. The immense water pressure has actually preserved the underground passages. "If we were to pump the water out again, you could theoretically walk through them again," shared former miner Eddy Pluimers, who now leads tours at the Heusden-Zolder site. This revelation challenges long-held assumptions about the state of the abandoned mines.

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If we were to pump the water out again, you could theoretically walk through them again.

Efforts were made to secure the shafts to prevent ground subsidence. Robert Coens, who worked in the Beringen mine for two decades, explained that walls or dams were constructed around the shafts. When pumping ceased, the water filled these areas, but the pressure from the surrounding rock also played a role in keeping the tunnels from collapsing. "If there is no maintenance, the spaces close themselves," he noted, suggesting a natural process of sealing.

The legacy of Limburg's mining past is complex. While it represents a scar on the landscape, it is also a source of pride for many. The intricate underground network, once bustling with miners descending in cages at 12 meters per second, now lies silent and submerged, a testament to a bygone industrial age.

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If there is no maintenance, the spaces close themselves.