In 1974, the last coal mine in the Netherlands was closed. With that, the main industry of Limburg came to an end. However, ceasing the mining activities did not mean that soil movements halted too.
The extraction of coal has strongly affected the deep subsoil. In the past, this led to local subsidence and also mining damage. But also now, the former coal mining can still have lagging effects.
One of the long-term and large-scale interventions related to the coal mining activities was pumping away mine water. The last continuous pump in the Aachen-Limburg basin was terminated in 1994. Ever since, the mines and the adjoining deep subsoil are gradually filling up with water again.
The return of water can lead to heave, weakening of shallow mines and old shaft fillings becoming unstable. SSM keeps a finger on the pulse regarding these possible time-lagging effects of the former coal mining. Among other things, SSM collects the measurements of the mine water tables, participates in studies and gives technical advice to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation on carrying out measurements and initiating further research.
Measurements of the mine water level show a yearly water level rise of 3 to 4 meter.
