Wilhelmina State Mine

State mine Wilhelmina was put into operation in 1906. It is the first state mine. That is why he is popularly called 'd'r Stjaat'. Until the closure of the mine in 1969, a total of about 59,235,000 tonnes of coal was brought to the surface here.
In addition, 36,000,000 tons of mining stone are mined. Via long conveyor belts it is transported day and night to the stone mountain from which the current Wilhelminaberg originated. From 1924 the mine has two shafts.
The deepest point is 823 meters below ground level. Over the years, the mine has grown into a huge business complex where thousands of people find work. In the end, the total mine site covers an area of approximately 89 hectares. Already in 1955, ten years before Minister Joop den Uyl announced the mine closures, it was known that d'r Sjtaat was slowly becoming exhausted.
The management expects to be able to continue coal production for another 10 to 12 years. It is hoped that by that time Beatrix State Mine will be in operation, but that mine will never be completed. In 1969, Staatsmijn Wilhelmina closed its doors for good. In the following years, the company complex will be demolished and the mine site will be rehabilitated.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)