OVS/TVS building Wilhelmina State Mine

In 1956, a site at the Wilhelmina State Mine, at the foot of the spoil heap, was cleared for the construction of a school. It is to be a modern 'glass palace' of 800 m², intended for the OVS and TVS. 'OVS' stands for 'Underground Vocational School' and 'TVS' stands for 'Technical Vocational School'.
By offering these vocational training courses, the mine managers hope to attract young workers to the mines. During the Reconstruction, the need for coal is enormous. In order to continue to meet this need, new staff is needed. Staff who remain loyal to the employer and preferably come from the region.
In addition, the rapidly modernizing mining company requires solid knowledge of technology, materials and safety. The school building was completed in 1957. That's a relief, because until then, the students are in temporary emergency accommodation and cramped, outdated mining school buildings.
The new OVS/TVS has an elongated floor plan and has only one storey, to prevent mine damage. The building has a concrete skeleton with windows that let a lot of light through the classrooms. Of course, there is also a gymnasium with changing rooms and cloakroom, because sports and games are very important for health and team spirit.
From the age of three, the students practice underground work in an artificial leather mine, excavated in the spoil heap. At the bottom right of the complex, the entrance to the leather mine is still visible. After their training, the OVS and TVS employees are assured of a job in the mine.
In 1969, the Wilhelmina State Mine closed its doors. The vocational training courses have already been discontinued. With the exception of the school, the huge above-ground business complex will be completely demolished. Nowadays, the OVS/TVS is a workplace that offers new perspectives to people with a distance to the labour market.
The MIJN lunch café is also located at this location in the OVS-TVS building of the Wilhelmina State Mine, this is a social and homely lunch café that is accessible to everyone and highly recommended to taste the mining past in Parkstad Limburg.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)