Sibelco quarry

A little bit of history
Around 1800, parts of this area were cleared for agriculture and cattle breeding. More than a century later, in 1912, the area was given a new purpose and the Oranje-Nassau IV coal mine was put into operation. This mine remained in operation for more than half a century and was closed in 1968.
The Heksenberg silver sand quarry has existed since the 1920s and was located partly under what is now the spoil heap and partly in what is now the Noordplas. No new concessions were granted for the extraction of silver sand, due to the presence of a water extraction area for the Oranje-Nassau IV. However, this changed when the mine closures were announced...
Employment compensation
The Heksenberg quarry was designated as a special project to compensate for the loss of employment due to the closure of the mines. The current Sibelco quarry therefore belongs in the same category as DAF (now Nedcar), ABP/APG, DSM and CBS.
Originally, an excavation permit had been issued for 200 hectares (1968), including the area with the spoil heap of the Oranje-Nassau IV. This was later reduced to about 100 ha (2001), which does not include the spoil heap.
The excavation work in the Zuidplas has now been completed and the quarry was transferred to Natuurmonumenten and the municipality of Heerlen in mid-2021 on the basis of the final plan. The excavation work in the Central Lake and in the Noordplas will continue until at least 2032.
The final plan that accompanies an excavation permit contains agreements about the way in which a quarry will be delivered and handed over to the new owner after completion of the excavation work. In the case of the Sibelco quarry, the entire site is set up as a nature reserve, supplemented by paths and viewpoints.
For example, it was possible to lead the Round of Quarries along the Zuidplas and set up a beautiful viewpoint!
Do you know what is made from silver sand?
Silver sand has many uses. For example, it is used for the production of:

• glass, from flat glass to hollow glass, technical glass and glass wool;
• foundries and precision moulds;
• ceramics, from tableware to specialisms such as teeth and artificial hips;
• fertilizers and pharmaceutical preparations;
• abrasives, anti-slip agents, abrasives and polishes;
• masonry mortar, decorative plaster and tile adhesive;
• water filters, golf and sports grounds;
• well drilling, brake sand and drilling sand;
• ornamental stones, bricks and roofing sheets;
• road asphalt and bituminous roofing membranes;
• Binders;
• Fillers;
• crystal, optical fibers and fibers;
• electronic applications and semiconductors;
• paper and detergents;
• paints, plastics, polymers and silicones.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)