Those caves in the Limburg village of Zichen-Zussen-Bolder in Belgium, were again the result of sawing blocks of marl, or soft stone as it is also called, for building cities.
Also here, husband Pieter came for a frequent visit in Belgium, just across the Dutch border.
For his boss, Pieter Bels, my Pieter wrote a kind of a speech, in the summer of 1957.
Read more below first screenshot...
There were always quite some adventures in Belgium, especially when visiting Gerard Kinet. First they had bacon breakfast at Jacquemin. That was being generously served with cognac. It caused them having difficulty walking straight, between those mushroom beds inside the caves, with their trouser legs pushed up!
On December 23, 1958 harvesting went on inside the caves of Zichen-Zussen-Bolder in Belgium.
Prior to Christmas for having mushrooms available for special dinners...
Above screenshot is from video Roosburg 1958-2008 (link is further down below)
Belgium: Mushroom Galleries Cave In 20 Feared Dead 1958 click link for short video
Collapse of the quarry
It seems to be that one of the main reasons for such a disastrous collapse, was the gradual widening of underground corridors, plus taking away some support pillars.
The main reason for doing so was because of transport equipment being able to pass.
It also was mentioned that the mine inspectors sometimes closed an eye...
Slowly mushroom growing had also shifted away from the one layer beds on the floor to stacked trays.
The difference can clearly be seen between the first and second image above.
Prior to Christmas for having mushrooms available for special dinners...
Above screenshot is from video Roosburg 1958-2008 (link is further down below)
Collapse of the quarry
The main reason for doing so was because of transport equipment being able to pass.
It also was mentioned that the mine inspectors sometimes closed an eye...
Slowly mushroom growing had also shifted away from the one layer beds on the floor to stacked trays.
The difference can clearly be seen between the first and second image above.
Screenshots from video Roosburg 1958-2008 just click it
Screenshot from video Roosburg 1958-2008
Pieter's mushroom friend Gerard Kinet, as well as others he knew very well, were among the 18 that lost their lives...
Gerard's body was never found, only 7 got recovered.
Gerard's father-in-law Willem Heynen was heartbroken and the Bishop tried to console him as he'd lost his son Pierre, father of 7 children and his son-in-law Gerard Kinet, father of 2 children...
*
On December 31, they recovered the body of the youngest person and on February 17, that of a 21-year old...
On December 27, 1958 was the funeral for 5 of those that got recovered...
*
My Pieter is somewhere amongst the crowd, he went to their funeral.
Quite a tragedy!
May they all R.I.P.
Related link:
Husband Pieter visiting Mushrooms in the Cave - Bradford-on-Avon in England | previous post by me
