Where oh Where Wednesday: Mining in the area

The area where we live is historically an area of coal mining. Both in Limburg of the Netherlands (for which Maastricht is the capitol) and in Limburg of Belgium (where our house is situated) were coal mining areas. The cities of Sittard, Kerkrade and more in the Netherlands grew up around the industry of coal. Maasmechelen and Genk, Belgium - just down the road from us - have now turned their coal mining past into tourist attractions. Because the coal has long been gone. 

Genk has a site called “C-Mine” which now houses a cinema and stores, as well as a major cycling race every year, but previously it was simply a mine. In August I will go on an outing on a steam train. It will take us along the historical mining sites and we will visit the coal mining museum. All of this in the area of Kerkrade and Simpelveld in the Netherlands. 

Down by our Bible Camp we also have many old mining sites. In the past we have taken the kids on an outing to Blegny in Belgium. There they can go down into the mine and experience some of the sights, sounds and smells of the mine. The guide is an old miner and can tell stories of how things used to be. How they had to eat their lunch while working - preferably quickly and before anyone relieved themselves (which also had to be done in the same space. 

The mines are also why this area of both countries is so diverse culturally. Maasmechelen has a Greek, Italian, Turkish, Bulgarian and Polish community - all of whom worked in the mines at the time. They came as guest workers and built their families in Belgium - although some returned to their home countries. Many simply brought their cultural beauties (and problems) to Belgium. So now anyone can go to an Italian or Greek restaurant, visit various Catholic and Orthodox churches and be amazed at the diversity in general. 

The mines closed their doors in the 1970’s and the area has been trying to recover since then from the economic impact. Ford (in Belgium) and Volvo (in the Netherlands) both had a major factory, but these also closed within the last 10 years. Tourism remains a strong calling card to the area of hills and valleys (some made from the “trash” of coal mining). Some of these areas have been turned into beuatiful spa resorts with twisting bike paths running through the lakes. Others have disappeared into the background of the hills surrounding - as in our area of camp. 

(Photo of Terhills resort near Maasmechelen)

Whatsit Wednesday: Wildlife bridge (ecoduct)

Every time we drive West from our home (which is pretty much every time) we pass under a special bridge. So on our way to singing or a camp meeting in Antwerp, on the way to our Bible studies on Mondays and Thursdays, on the way to the airport in Brussels, we pass under this bridge. And every homecoming from these events is met by this bridge just outside Maasmechelen. 

The highway enters the 60 meter long tunnel through gracious curves, the bushes and even small trees gracefully growing above as the river of traffic passes underneath. This ecoduct was built around 2005 and has proven to be a real help for the wildlife in the area. We live in Limburg, a province that has a lot of woods and natural elements (and a smaller population). But highways can cut up areas like this, leaving wildlife stranded or worse killed by trying to cross the highway. This ecoduct helps. 

In 2021 a 4th check was made on how well the ecoduct has been working and it became clear that it is doing even more than was thought possible. Reptiles and amphibians, like frogs, were some of the wildlife that was supposed to be helped by this massive project bridging the highway. But it is also used regularly by deer, fox and wild pigs as well as ermine, stone marten, and smaller mammals such as the shrew. Crickets, grasshoppers and beetles enjoy the crossing, making some very specific habitat come back to life. 

In the meantime this whole area has turned a few other bridges into ecoducts (though not as spectacularly as Kikbeek) and the province has become known for the various amazing ways to travel by bike among and through the beautiful nature present all around. There are bike paths winding through the trees, stretching over lakes and running along old train tracks. We are reminded of the beauty around us every time we return to the area and drive under this ecoduct.