Cycling in the Mijnstreek

The hard history of the Limburg coal mines lasted less than a century, but it exacted a high price in human terms: deaths from dust lung diseases, deaths during strikes and mining accidents, unemployment during the closures? After André Dumont discovered hard coal in 1901, the appearance of the region changed rapidly. Coal facilities displaced a number of small farmers from the heath. Pine trees, which were supposed to meet the wood demands of the mines, replaced heath herbs, making these heath landscapes temporarily somewhat more profitable. Garden quarters were established and mining buildings, headframes, and dumps gave the landscape a new horizon. Seven Limburg coal mines were created. During this cycling tour, you will come into contact with three of these seven mines: Beringen, Zolder, and Houthalen.
On September 30, 1992, the last Limburg hard coal was extracted and the history of Limburg mining began. From that day on, the fight to preserve mining heritage began. The mining sites along our route have held up quite well. Along the way, you will notice that these mining sites and landscapes are not just relics of the past. They have been transformed into fascinating places for the present and future, providing space for new economic activities.
Paths were created on the dumps, and the mining tracks were converted into cycling paths. There are multicultural markets, an educational center, an exhibition space?

DIRECTIONS
Signposts cycling network.

SAFETY
Generally safe roads. 55% traffic-free.
Paved everywhere except for part of the route between junction 301 and junction 302.

RECOMMENDED STARTING POINT
Mining site of Beringen, Coal Mine Avenue, Beringen. Alternative starting point: Bicycle entry Paalse Plas, on route 330-345, about 6 kilometers from the Beringen mining site.

INFORMATION
Tourism Beringen, Markt 8, 3580 Beringen, 011 42 15 52, toerisme@beringen.be, www.beringen.be.

Tourism Heusden-Zolder, Terlaemenlaan 1, 3550 Heusden-Zolder, 011 53 02 30, info@toerisme-heusdenzolder.be, www.toerisme-heusdenzolder.be.

Tourism Zonhoven, Old Town Hall, Heuvenstraat 4, 3520 Zonhoven, 011 60 26 19, toerisme.zonhoven@skynet.be, www.zonhoven.be/toerisme.

BIKE RENTAL
Pro Fitness, Domaine Bovy, Heusden-Zolder, 011 25 21 29.

Food and Drink
Der Bergarbeiter, Coal Mine Avenue 226, 3850 Beringen, 0474 20 04 18. A pleasant meeting place for drinks in close proximity to the starting point.

Eetcafé Den Lavaar, Market Square 2, 3550 Zolder, 011 82 26 96. A cozy spot for food and drinks at the Zolder mining site.

Taverne Athene, Bahnhofstraße 7, 3582 Beringen, 011 42 65 77.

't Bolderke, Galgenende 17, 3550 Zolder, 011 25 13 09.