Beringen in northeastern Belgium is a former mining colony, turned cultural center, with a museum, various culture and community activities, and some food and shopping options. I came by to learn about the transformation the town has gone through in the first half of the 20th century, with immigrants coming from all across Europe to work at the mines. Working down at the mines could be hard tedious, and dangerous work, but generally it seemed like the families that came in were generally doing well, and that the town and the community did quite well. The museum tour is very interesting, at first with self-guided tour with an audio guide, and then a guide taking you down to restored mines down below (Flemish only, atleast when I visited). I only spend a couple of hours, but could easily see my self spending more time in that area to see more of what it has to offer. The Belgiums have done a really good job with this one.
Entering the Be-mine area…
At the museum…
Going down underground and joining the tour guide…
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