Bergbaumuseum Ibbenbüren

Mining museum in the turbine hall of the former Oeynhausen colliery in Ibbenbüren – currently closed due to the demolition of the colliery site.

Temporarily closed

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Temporarily closed. Currently closed because of the demolition work on the grounds of the Oeynhausen colliery; the museum cannot remain at its previous location. A new concept with a new location is in the works, but no date has been set yet.

About the museum

Hard coal was already being mined in the Ibbenbüren area in the 16th century; the mine was latterly among the deepest in Germany and produced high-quality anthracite coal. In August 2018, mining ended here, at the second-to-last German hard coal mine. The mining museum is housed in the turbine hall of the former 100-megawatt power plant on the grounds of RAG Anthrazit Ibbenbüren and was reached through a works gate on Osnabrücker Straße.

The exhibition mainly shows evidence of mining from the 18th to the 20th century: mining machinery and tools, roadway and longwall supports, old mine maps as well as text and picture documents from the lives of the miners. One focus is the coal plough, which was developed in Ibbenbüren and later used worldwide. The collection is complemented by minerals and fossils, anthracite coal and historic decorative stoves, as well as paintings showing subjects from the working world underground. Tours were led by former miners in miners' uniform.

Because of the demolition work on the grounds of the Oeynhausen colliery, the museum cannot remain at its previous location and is currently closed. According to the town of Ibbenbüren, work is under way on a new concept with a new location.