Le Bois du Cazier: From the birth of a coal mine to a heritage site

The origins of Le Bois du Cazier

The history of the Bois du Cazier coal mine begins on September 30, 1822, when a coal concession was granted to Eulalie Desmanet de Biesme by a Dutch royal decree. This concession, located in Marcinelle, includes two woods named Bonbois and Hublinbut, rich in coal.

The evolution of mining operations

The first companies

In 1861, a company was created under the owners’ names, which became the Société anonyme du charbonnage du Bois de Cazier in 1874. Despite its profitability, the concession was abandoned in 1898 due to the risks associated with firedamp.

Recovery and expansion

On February 4, 1899, the S.A. des Charbonnages d’Amercoeur bought the concession. Over the years, the site expanded:

1904: Merger with the Marcinelle-Sud concession
1910: Addition of the Bois du Prince concession
1922: Extensions bringing the surface area to 875 hectares

The 1956 disaster

On August 8, 1956, Le Bois du Cazier was the scene of the greatest mining disaster in Belgian history. A fire caused the death of 262 miners of 12 different nationalities. This tragic event had an international impact and led to an awareness of working conditions in mines.