In a joint letter, the mining municipalities, the Province of Limburg, and the Ministry of KGG today inform their respective municipal councils, Provincial States, and the House of Representatives about the steps taken in recent months and the final steps that still need to be taken.
Extra budget for damage recovery
The Mining Damage Limburg dossier has a long history of consultation and coordination between the Province, the State, and the involved municipalities. It is therefore important that there is a place where homeowners with mining damage can go. On January 2, 2026, the damage regulation will officially open, and at the end of December 2025, the digital counter will already start for residents who want to report damage to their homes, possibly caused by mining activities. The government has recently made additional budget available for the handling of mining damage in Limburg. In total, an amount of 26.6 million euros will be available in 2026. For the budget year 2027, a one-time amount of 27.8 million euros will be made available.
Structural cooperation and clear damage handling
During the administrative meeting that will take place tomorrow between Minister Sophie Hermans (KGG), Elianne Demollin-Schneiders (Province of Limburg), and Alderman Casper Gelderblom (municipality of Heerlen) as a representative of the mining municipalities, the authorities will finalize the last details towards structural cooperation and prompt damage handling. The Limburg approach is characterized by relieving, people-oriented, simplicity, and care. This takes into account the lessons learned from the approach to mining damage in Northern Netherlands.
Deputy Elianne Demollin-Schneiders (Mining Damage): “It is now certain that the opening date of the I3ML on January 2, 2026, is guaranteed and that from that moment on, work can begin on repairing the damage. For the State and the region, it is important to continue to work together in the coming time. It is high time that Limburg residents who think they have damage as a result of the lingering effects of past mining can finally report this damage.”
Fast and transparent
The new website www.mijnbouwschadelimburg.nl (refers to another website) (opens external website) that will go online on Friday afternoon provides homeowners and other stakeholders with a central counter for information and reporting damage. This makes the concrete step towards a fast and transparent damage handling possible. The Province of Limburg will continue to communicate all developments closely and will continue to work with the State and the municipalities to sustainably and justly restore mining damage.
The name of the Institute for Environment, People, and Mining (I3ML) refers to the rich history of the Limburg mining region. Where mining was once at the forefront, recovery and recognition for the environment and people is now central. I3ML will be reachable by phone from mid-October and will not only focus on the handling of mining damage but also on sustainability and research.
I3ML is a collaboration between the State, Province, and municipalities. The National Government is responsible for the mining damage regulation. The Province and municipalities are responsible for the other two tasks of I3ML.
