TUNES, TRACKS, COAL

In 2018 there was a shift in the shaft for the hard coal mine in the area: Prosper Haniel in Bottrop was the last mine to shut down operations on December 21. At some places on and along the route, visitors can still experience the working world of the miners up close: Removed seams, reconstructed routes, training tunnels, training and demonstration mines authentically depict the hard everyday work underground - and some actually lead underground.

 

The offers are generally only accessible as part of guided tours. Please inform yourself about the current regulations and offers before your visit!

Adit, route, coal

show mine

German Mining Museum

Was the German Mining Museum in Bochum actually a colliery? No it was not. But at a depth of 20 meters we maintain a demonstration mine that was modeled on a real mine. The route network covers around 2,5 km - 1,2 km of which is open to the public
nightingale stollen

LWL Museum Nightingale colliery

The 130 meter long old nightingale tunnel was expanded in 1990 as a show mine. In the meantime, other old mine workings have been developed and made accessible. This is where a journey through time begins underground. A working face and tunneling in Geitling 3 seam show typical working situations in small-scale mining after 1945. A guided tour of the visitor mine is one of the highlights of a visit to the LWL Museum
training gallery

Friedrich Heinrich colliery

Experiencing over 100 years of mining tradition live is what the Friedrich Heinrich colliery training tunnel in Kamp-Lintfort offers. Over a length of 300m, it offers a realistic insight into underground operations.
montanium

LWL Museum Zollern colliery

In the underground world "Montanium", visitors can experience the natural forces in the earth's interior up close during guided tours. Experiment stations, audiovisual projections and sensory experiences provide insights into the lives of miners. On the mine site, interactive experiments invite visitors to explore physical phenomena, such as the compressive strength of materials or lifting heavy loads with little effort. All areas are barrier-free.
Mining to touch

Training mine Recklinghausen

Follow in the footsteps of the miners and experience mining and its special atmosphere up close. In the training mine, you can interactively experience what work underground is like and try out your skills as a miner. On the tours, former and active miners accompany you, answer your questions and make history tangible. This gives you a comprehensive insight into life and work in the mine.
Hugo/Consolidation mine

Nordstern mine tunnel

The history of mining comes to life at this location. The 63-meter-long tunnel was built in 1997 by trainees from the HUGO/Consolidation mine as part of the Federal Garden Show. Today, former miners from the Nordstern mine have set themselves the goal of preserving the tunnel and equipping it with exhibits from the fascinating world of mining. Free tours for school classes, kindergartens and groups of adults are available between April and October by prior arrangement by telephone.
Dortmund-Syburg mine

Graf Wittekind visitor mine

Every Saturday, visitors have the opportunity to experience the "Graf Wittekind" visitor mine in Dortmund up close. Volunteer members of the working group not only maintain the historic mine workings – they also offer exciting free tours underground, every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and by prior arrangement. The tours, which last approximately two to two and a half hours, impressively convey the everyday life of the miners and the special conditions underground. As places are highly sought after, early registration is recommended. Whether for individuals, families, or groups – anyone interested in mining history will find an unforgettable experience here.

WDR's “Glückauf” mining project

The conveyor wheels of the Prosper Haniel mine are standing still forever. Without the miners in the hard coal mines, there would have been no German economic miracle, and no industrial state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
With its virtual reality project glueckauf.wdr.de, WDR has created the opportunity to explore the Prosper Haniel Colliery – in 360 degrees and, on these accessible pages, also in a conventional web tour. It begins where the coal came from the underground workings, in the raw coal mixing hall. From there, it continues through the stations that the miners also have to take to get first underground and then eventually to the longwall – i.e., where the coal was mined.

Virtual Reality Project of the WDR

Experience the underground world virtually: Good luck!

In the Virtual Mine, you can choose between different episodes. In the glossary, you'll learn the special language of the miners. And in two additional chapters, we'll tell you about the origins of this special project.

 START HERE