Beaujean and Quaedvlieg are well-known names in Limburg, and in particular in the Heerlen region. And that is not for nothing. The families have played an important role in the silver sand extraction in Heerlen and have helped many residents find a job.
High demand for silver sand
Silver sand has been known for centuries in this part of Heerlen. It was frequently used as grit sand for floors and sold as far as Valkenburg.
When the construction of miners' houses started in the early 20th century, the demand for silver sand also increased. Because although the sand was not suitable as masonry sand, it did serve excellently as plasterer's sand.
The large-scale extraction of silver sand was aided by the Oranje-Nassau mines, which needed sand for the construction of the railway dam from the Oranje-Nassau I in Heerlen to the Oranje-Nassau III in Heerlerheide.
Around 1914 this marked the start of the excavation of the Kroeselenberg, where the industrial buildings in the Beaujean quarry are still standing today. The initiator for this excavation was farmer and cattle trader Mathijs Jozeph Beaujean. While excavating the Kroeselenberg he came across the silver sand, which son Hendrik Jozef then started trading.
Steady growth
The exploitation of silver sand got off to a good start in the First World War, when Philips from Eindhoven had to look for domestic raw materials for the production of light bulbs. The silver sand from Heerlerheide met the strict requirements.
After the war, sales shifted to Maastricht, to the Mosa, Stella, Sphinx and Céramique factories for porcelain and glass. The quarry grew steadily and several family members were engaged in mineral extraction. Around the Second World War, this was the Beaujean-Voncken branch (the still active quarry) and Quaedvlieg-Beaujean (the finished part of the quarry on the southeast side).
In addition to the Beaujean family, the Mertens family also ran a quarry, which later merged into the now visible quarry. The Beaujean family kept their heads above water during the Second World War by setting aside the topsoil, so that the silver sand is immediately available after the war. Mechanization of sand extraction soon followed.
However, the urban development of Heerlen did not stand still either. At the start of silver sand extraction, only the hamlets of Pappersjan and Roebroeck existed on the south side and the Versiliënbosch mining colony on the northeast side. The Heerlerheide cemetery, the Heksenberg mining colony and the Maria Chistinawijk further framed the area.
At first they did not border directly on the quarry, but after the Second World War there was a great need for raw materials and homes. As a result, the quarry is now completely surrounded by residential areas. In the 1960s, you could still see about 25 meters into the depths from the homes on the Belgiëlaan and the Vrijheerenlaan!
The Unolaan and the park area around the Unolaan were constructed later, after the northern and northeastern part of the quarry had been filled in.
Under water extraction
The current quarry is still in operation. The same applies to the Heerenweg-Oost and -West quarries, which are located about a kilometer to the south.
The silver sands are now being excavated here under water, for which the right techniques did not yet exist in the 1920s and 1930s. Thanks to the current sieving and suction techniques, it is possible to respond well to the demand for specific types of silver sand. As a result, the visible activity in the different quarries is not always the same.
This text has been automatically translated using an online translation service.
