The Dutch Mining Museum was founded in 2005 by former miners to pass on mining history to new generations. The museum now has two locations where the underground and surface history of the mining region is told.
The main location of the Dutch Mining Museum is in the former Kneepkens department store on Dr. Poelsstraat in Heerlen-Centrum. This monumental building was designed by architect Frits Peutz. Each floor represents a different color and a different time period. On BLACK you will learn more about working life underground. On GOLD, the socio-cultural boom that the mines brought to the region is discussed. GRAUW shows the downside of the mining industry and paints a picture of the period after the mine closures. COLOR gives an impression of the transformation the region has undergone in recent decades.
The second location is the Mine Monument Oranje-Nassau I, the former shaft and retrieval building of the mine of the same name. This national monument is one of the few physical remnants of the mining past. For many years, the building was a link between underground coal mining and above-ground life. This authentic site, which houses numerous authentic mining objects, can be visited monthly during a special Open Shaft weekend.
The main location of the Dutch Mining Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The Mining Monument on several weekends a year. For more information, please visit the website of the Dutch Mining Museum.
During the Year of Heerlen's Heritage 2025, attention will be paid to lesser-known stories from our city's history, but of course also to permanent values such as the Dutch Mining Museum and its time period.