Hessisches Braunkohle Bergbaumuseum

About the museum

Around Borken, lignite was mined on a large scale from 1923 to 1991 and turned into electricity in a dedicated power plant; mining in North Hesse goes back about 400 years in total. The end came in the early 1990s, hastened by the Stolzenbach mining disaster of June 1, 1988, in which 51 miners died. A support group for a museum was formed as early as 1991, the memorial at the former mine site was dedicated the same year, and the museum building in Borken's old town followed in 1992.

The museum is run by the town of Borken (Hesse); a foundation backed by energy companies and the local savings bank, among others, supports its work. The museum sees itself as a place of industrial heritage that links the legacy of mining and the power plant with exhibitions.

In the old town, the mining history department occupies a half-timbered house, and a reconstructed tunnel features underground mining machines that are demonstrated on guided tours. On the edge of town, the roughly 3.5-hectare theme park “Kohle & Energie” (Coal & Energy) displays excavators, drilling rigs, mine locomotives and power plant technology in the open air. A museum trail lined with sculptures connects the two sites, and a lignite trail leads through today's landscape of lakes. There is also a mineral collection and a collection of prints by the mining artist Hermann Kätelhön.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the visitor tunnel with machine demonstrations
• 14-meter-tall bucket-wheel excavator in the theme park
• Mine locomotives, bucket-chain excavators and power plant technology
• Memorial to the 1988 Stolzenbach mining disaster
• Prints by the mining artist Hermann Kätelhön
• Lignite trail through the post-mining landscape

Permanent exhibitions

• Besucherstollen und Bergbaugeschichte – A reconstructed tunnel with demonstrations of drilling, loading and hauling equipment, plus an exhibition on the history of Hessian lignite mining in the half-timbered house.
• Themenpark Kohle & Energie – Outdoor site with heavy open-pit mining equipment, mine railways and power plant technology along a 1.5-kilometer loop trail.
• Hermann Kätelhön – Prints by the mining artist depicting everyday work underground, on loan from a private collection.

Founded

1992

Operated by

Stadt Borken (Hessen)

Visitors per year

approx. 18,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on International Museum Day and on “Blauer Sonntag” (the last Sunday of the Hessian summer school holidays).

Single tickets are valid for either the visitor tunnel or the theme park. Cash only.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Kohle & Energie theme park is accessible; the visitor tunnel is not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

An underground adventure tunnel for children and an excavator play area in the theme park; children aged 7 to 12 get age-appropriate tours and may operate some of the machines themselves. Also children's activity days, holiday programs and family festivals at the start and end of the season.

Getting there & parking

Visitor tunnel: Am Amtsgericht 2-4 (old town); theme park: Am Freilichtmuseum 1. The two sites are connected by the museum trail.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Museum café “Kohldampf” in the entrance area of the theme park (coffee and cold drinks, during theme park opening hours). Small museum shop with souvenirs.

Events & venue rental

As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.

The museum café is currently not available for private parties or events.

Plan your visit