Beringen, city in Limburg, Belgium
Beringen is a city in Belgium's Limburg region with a history closely tied to coal mining. It has a year-round tourist information office that welcomes visitors with details about local attractions and stories from the mining era.
Mining in Beringen began after the First World War and reached its peak after the Second World War before the last mine closed in 1989. Industrial structures like cooling towers and headframes remain as reminders of this important era.
The name Beringen reflects its mining roots, which remain visible in the streets and buildings today. Workers who came from different countries shaped the city, and their stories are told at places like the mining museum where visitors hear personal accounts.
The city is easy to reach by car via the E313 highway and has parking near the market square, train station, and around town. Trains connect Beringen regularly to nearby cities, and cyclists can use bike routes passing through the area.
The be-MINE site is Belgium's largest industrial heritage site and includes a former mining area transformed into a mix of attractions, homes, shops, and leisure facilities. The grounds also host Adventure Mountain, an unusual playground built on an old slag heap with 1,600 wooden poles for climbing.
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