#Landmark
Mine shaft shower facility
Heerlen enjoyed long periods of prosperity thanks to the mining industry. The city came through the years of war without suffering much material damage. Even the German occupying forces understood that they could not crack down on miners because coal was an indispensable energy source for the war industry.
Due to the presence of many young, often unmarried miners, the city had many entertainment venues such as theatres, cinemas and dance halls before the war. Mine managements had in turn provided other, much more necessary facilities. For example, the soot-black miners were given plenty of facilities to shower after their shifts.
During and after the liberation, the American liberators also made use of these facilities.