Zeche Holland, Coal mine and heritage monument in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Zeche Holland is a former coal mine complex located on the border between Gelsenkirchen and Bochum, in the Wattenscheid district, centered around a rare double Malakow tower and several shaft and ventilation structures. The complex spans multiple shaft sites and includes engine houses, brick buildings, and technical installations from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dutch investors founded the mining company in 1855, and by 1861 five separate coal fields had merged under the Holland name. Mining continued for over a century until the decline of the Ruhr coal industry forced the site to close in the second half of the 20th century.
The name Holland comes from the Dutch investors who originally financed the mine, and this origin is still easy to remember when standing in front of the towers. The site is now part of everyday life in the area, with small businesses and residents sharing the old mining buildings.
Much of the site can be viewed from outside without any prior arrangement, making it easy to take in the industrial architecture at your own pace. Some enclosed buildings may require advance contact, so it is worth checking access conditions before planning a visit.
The double Malakow tower on the site is the only surviving example of its kind in the entire Ruhr region, making it a rare physical trace of 19th-century shaft engineering. This tower type was built to serve two adjacent shafts at the same time, which made operations more efficient than using separate structures.
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