Dutch Mining Museum

A department store disguised as a museum, or a museum disguised as a department store? The new Dutch Mining Museum by Tinker imagineers is not a museum in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, the focus is on the many stories from a past that reaches far beyond the city and the region.

The compelling design immerses the visitor in the story of mining history above ground, showing not only the successes but also the downsides of this exhausting industry. Visitors imagine themselves in the department store of yesteryear, the once-famous Kneepkens department store in Heerlen, and go ‘shopping’.

The exhibition tells the unique story of the rise, the glory days, and the decline of coal mining in the South Limburg region and its impact on society. With this new museum, a part of history that has long been kept hidden finally sees the light of day.