Dear members of the KIVI Department of History of Technology and of Histechnica,

The boards of the Histechnica Association and of the KIVI History of Technology Section are pleased to invite you to attend a lecture to be given by Mr J. Halmans entitled: "Electrical Power Station of the Oranje Nassau Mines in Heerlen"

Programme:

  • 10.30 am: Walk-in with coffee and tea
  • 11:00 a.m.: Welcome and introduction
  • 11.05:00: Lecture by Mr J. Halsman
  • 12:00: Break
  • 12:15: Continuation of lecture and closing discussion
  • 12:45: End of meeting

Summary of the lecture

Of the 12 Dutch mines, the Oranje Nassau Mines formed the largest group of private mines. The 4 State Mines founded in 1902 were larger and could count on state support. It was also they who took up the electrification of Limburg through the SVM later the PLEM.

The Oranje Nassau Mines, then only 2, changed hands in 1908 and that was also the beginning of electrification. Modestly at first, but later on a larger scale. So big, in fact, that after World War II a 150 kV high-voltage line had to be built to feed energy into the grid of The State Mines and the Netherlands. With the closure of the last mine, ONI on 31 Dec 1974, this period came to an end. Meanwhile, the PLEM had energetically converted the energy supply of the entire province of Limburg to ensure the supply of energy without the mining plants.

Information about the speaker

Jef Halmans (1945) born in Heerlen lived next door to the ONI. After studying at the HTS in Heerlen, electrical engineering, he started working and eventually joined an aluminium company in Drunen. First in electrical engineering, later in management to eventually become group director of the aluminium companies in the Netherlands. Electric Power Plants have always fascinated him and after his retirement, he delved into the history of the Mines and electric power plants. To do so, he did extensive archival research in Maastricht, Heerlen, Zwolle, Den Bosch and Hasselt.

On 21 March next, prior to the lecture, KIVI/GDT 's General Assembly of Members will be held at 10:00 am. The necessary documents can be obtained from gdt@kivi.nl

Entrance is from the car park behind high-rise building.

You need to register to attend this lecture:

  • KIVI members can register via the KIVI website
  • Members of Histechnica can register free of charge through the secretary : hotzeboonstra@gmail.com.
  • Interested parties who are not members can also register via the above ways. There will then be a cost of €5.00.
  • The lecture will be broadcast live ; you should also register for this through the above channels. There is no charge for this.

Upcoming activities in Science Centre Delft:

  • saturday 25 April 2026 at 11:00 lecture by Liselotte Neervoort: "From aircraft wing to toaster: 4-year programme Customised Faculty Collections at TU Delft".
  • Saturday 16 May 2026 at 11:00 am lecture by Em. Prof. P. Kruit: "Mapper".

Entrance is from the car park behind high-rise buildings.