Step into the Mundloch Hasestollen. Feel the cool damp air on your skin. This isn’t just a hole in the ground. It’s a portal to Osnabruck’s industrial past.
The Mundloch Hasestollen served a crucial role in the Piesberg coal mine. From 1856 it connected the northern and southern parts of the mountain. A newly built colliery station opened nearby the following year. This wasn’t just about coal. The Hasestollen also channeled the mine’s salty water into the Hase River. This unfortunately caused major environmental issues.
The consequences were significant. The mine closed in 1898. The salty water pollution was too much. The Mundloch Hasestollen wasn’t abandoned though. During the Second World War it offered shelter from air raids. Imagine the sounds of bombs and the hushed whispers of frightened people.
The Museum of Industrial Culture Osnabruck revived the Mundloch Hasestollen. Beginning in 1997 they excavated it. In September 2000 a 300-meter section opened to the public. Now you can walk this historic tunnel. It connects to the main museum building. There you’ll find exhibitions on the mine’s history.
Today the Mundloch Hasestollen stands as a testament to Osnabruck’s industrial heritage. Its history is interwoven with coal mining environmental challenges and wartime survival. It’s a place where the past whispers its stories. A place that invites you to listen.