June 1, 2024 – 07.45 Am
Utrecht

On 1st June 2024, the PGK will be organising a One-day excursion to the Lead/Zinc mines of Moresnet and Blieberg in Belgium with excursion guide Professor Rudy Swennen from KU Leuven in Belgium. The excursion will visit the extraction sites of the historical Zinc and Lead ore including hand specimens. The excursion will cover the geological, environmental, cultural background of this interesting historical mining location.

Napoleon granted rights to extract Zinc at the Moresnet site and after Waterloo when the map of Europe was redrawn, the newly established Kingdom of the Netherlands (consisting of the current Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg) couldn’t agree with the Prussia Kingdom who would govern the economical valuable Moresnet, thus Moresnet became a tax free ministate governed by both Kingdoms. After Belgium left the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1843, Belgium took over the Dutch rights and the current 3 country point between Belgium, Netherlands and Prussia became in fact a 4 country point, a situation that lasted until the first world war.

Due to the current circumstances where the powers of the world are getting renewed interested in access to metals, governments of Europe are more interested to reevaluate mining options in Europe. Actually in the direct vicinity of Moresnet and Blieberg a study was done in the 1990’s which found considerable reserves of Zinc and Lead. Plans for the exploitation of this body have been proposed, but a new concession has not been granted to date.

We will gather at Utrecht central station at 7:45, it should be possible to reach this by train in the morning and return at night from almost everywhere in the Randstad.

Cost: 50 euros (including lunch and dinner). First 5 YP’s get a 50% discount.

Excursion Schedule: