As colliery

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As played a particularly significant role in the history of mining in Limburg. This was where André Dumont discovered the very first coal deposits, but the local council at the time was not in favour of a coal mine. You will find no mine shafts or underground passages here, but you can see clear signs of mining history.

In a small station

For years, As station played an important role in the coal extraction. This was the departure point for miners heading to the collieries at Eisden, Waterschei, and Winterslag, where the mined coal was transported over the coal track. Today one of the old train carriages accommodates a visitor center and you will discover 'The Yard' a graffiti art project on a few train units.

An elevated view

Nearby is a 31-metre high viewing tower. The tower is an exact replica of the drilling tower from which André Dumont discovered coal. Once at the top you have a great view of the station site and the surrounding landscape of the Hoge Kempen National Park.

Toegangspoort Station As - Station As Uitkijktoren

Gateway Station As

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Nature in all its glory! Station As is one of the gateways to the Hoge Kempen National Park. Every year, thousands of cyclists take a refreshing break here during one of the rides. Nature, history and absolute enjoyment. You’ll have a fantastic day in As! Thanks to a well-equipped parking area, this is the ideal point from which to discover As.

As well as walking and cycling, you can climb a 31 metre viewing tower here too. In 2024, the station site will be completely redesigned again. Among other things, a new visitors' centre will be built. During the construction period, the tourist office can be reached at the town hall of As, Dorpsstraat 1
Paaltje - Paaltje As

Small post in the Driebanken forest

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'In the Driebanken forest, for those who look carefully, there is a small post with the inscription: AD - SA - 51. The inscription stands for: 'André Dumont Sous Asch'. The post is thus a concession post and was used as a vertex for underground mining. In Ash itself, no mine eventually came because the then municipal government chose to remain an agricultural municipality.'
Graffitikunstwerk "The Yard 2.0" - The Yard 2.0

Graffiti artwork ‘The Yard 2.0’

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With the support of the Flemish government and in cooperation with SAGA, the municipality of As has had six train carriages repainted. Some twenty professional street art and graffiti artists have transformed these train carriages into colorful eye-catchers on the station site during a graffiti jam. The graffiti trains will be the start of a graffiti and street art walk "Off the Tracks" that will officially open in the fall of 2024.

The artists are a mix of top Belgian and Dutch graffiti artists. Each piece of the train was expertly put under (spray) hands by one or more artists.

Be sure to visit this beautiful and colorful art project at the station site, free admission!
Uitkijktoren - Uitkijktoren

Watchtower

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The 31-meter-high watchtower is a replica of the derrick that André Dumont used to extract the first coal from the ground in 1901. The watchtower is freely accessible up to a height of 25 meters. Once you reach the top, you can scan the horizon for the terrils of Eisden, Winterslag and Waterschei and have a beautiful view of the Hoge Kempen National Park.
André Dumont Monument - Monument Andre Dumont As

Monument André Dumont

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This monument is dedicated to the Leuven professor André Dumont. He discovered the first coal in Limburg on the night of 1 to 2 August 1901, namely in As. This was the start of Limburg's industrialisation and growth. From a region consisting of moors and small farms, this part of Limburg grew into a dynamic, multicultural region. Today, André Dumont's influence can still be felt: both hospitals and schools were named after him.
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