Steenkolenmijnen in Limburg

Summary

Corporate documentary about the coal industry.

In 1917, Filmfabriek Hollandia was commissioned to make a film about the state mines in Limburg. The film was directed by Jules Stoop, who since 1913 had been the general manager of Hollandia, and the head of its documentary film department. For the film, Stoop shot footage of the Heerlen mines 'Emma', 'Wilhelmina', and 'Hendrik'.

In the first part of the film, Stoop shows the underground mining activity: the descent with the elevators, the mining and removal of coal, and a horse stable located more than 200 meters underground, where we see a blacksmith at work. The second part mostly contains images of the marshalling railway yards, the briquette works, and the above-ground offices.

After the production of the film, Hollandia was specially commissioned to make four more films for the Nederlandsche Schoolfilm Commissie. Using the footage shot in Limburg, Stoop compiled four new films that were released and screened together with Coal Mines in Limburg, collectively called Limburg in beeld (Limburg in Pictures). Limburg in beeld was Filmfabriek Hollandia's final documentary. In August of 1919, Hollandia began collaborating with the UK distributor Granger. Stoop, who saw no future for the documentary department, resigned on November 1.