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South-Limburg is the only area in the Netherlands where a caver has the possibility to go subterranean.

Though we lack the grottos or natural caves and lost our coal-mines, we still have far over one hundred caves, mostly former lime-stone (marl) quarries. Quite a few of these caves offer possibilities for research and also sporting-trips while others are considered to be tourist-attractions.

It really is a pity that our caves never have appeared on stamps and most probably never will, due to the lack of interest from the authorities and the hunger of the cement-industry. But apparently there is something. In 1926 the village of Valkenburg used a postmark promoting its tourists-caves. Remarkable is that two languages, German and Dutch were used on this postmark. (Euro-minded ?!)

The text mentions three subjects:
1.Grotten - untererdische Höhlen
2.Gezonde lucht - Luftkurort
3.Romeinse (Röm.) Katakomben

 

The healthy air may be something for our biological workgroup but is of no interest to us. The "untererdische Höhlen “ were the several caves to be visited by the tourists, some of them still being; in use today, for example the "Gemeente Grot". About number three on the postmark "The Roman Catacombs" some more information. The chalk and limestone layers of the whole South-Limburg region were formed by the residue or dead sea-creatures which sank to the bottom of a primeval sea. In time, when the sea had disappeared, these layers were covered by later deposits. Valleys were gouged in these layers by glaciers and rivers. It was kind of easy to tunnel into these layers. The Romans were probably the first to make use of this fact and the blocks which they were able to hack or saw-out were used to build houses and fortifications.

Mining took place over a period spanning several centuries and the tunnels or corridors sometimes grew into enormous labyrinths. By the flickering light of candles, oil- and carbide-lamps labourors and also visitors wrote their names on the walls and also added drawing, painting, sculpture and relief-work making some caves real tourist-attractions.

In august 1909 the famous architect and builder Cuypers happened to be in Limburg and was contacted by some people who had a plan to imitate the Catacombs in one of our caves. As is generally known the Catacombs are extensive underground burial-sites in Rome and have a certain resemblance to our marl-caves by way of construction. As an example they wanted to use the Saint Cecilia Crypt from the Saint Calixtus Catacomb.

A commission was sent to Rome to take measures and get as much information as possible of the original Catacomb while Mr. Cuypers would supervise the construction in Valkenburg. As high church officials became interested the Dutch commission in Rome received intensive co-operation doing research work in the Catacombs. In 1912 they even discovered new frescos.

Already in the summer of 1910 part of a cave had been reconstructed and was completed in the summer of 1912. The construction did not cause any problems since, due to the crisis, plenty unemployed labourors were available. This cave is still a tourist attraction today. Part of the original Catacomb, the Saint Cecilia Crypt in Rome is shown on some of the Vatican stamps. (1938 - 5,10 and 25 c - Yvert nrs 80, 81 and 82.)

So far only Valkenburg was mentioned and it is really amazing that the caves of South-Limburg and there are about 170 of those within an area of 10 miles, have never appeared on stamps. Most surprising is the fact that of the largest labyrinth, the caves of "St.Pietersberg", where the corridors extended about two and a half mile from North to South and about half a mile from East to West, never a thing was displayed on Dutch stamps. Nowadays most of this labyrinth has been eaten away by the cement- industry ENCI and eventually only a small but still interesting part in the North will remain.

In the 18th century, after the construction of the Fortress St. Pieter (1702) with communication to the subterranean galleries, the caves drew the attention of the French troops which besieged Maastricht in 1748 and in 1794. In 1796 French officers constructed a, ground-plan which indicated the galleries and columns with utmost accuracy.

About 1780 the caves became of interest to foreign scientists because of the finding of a large fossil, the head of a prehistoric animal. Scientists of England and France wrote of the " Animal of Maastricht" and later it was called the "Mosasaurus" from the Roman name of the river Maas (Mosa). A large image of the Mosasaurus can be seen in the Jezuït-Caves, part of the Cannerberg, south-west of Maastricht while a more accurate image is in the Schark, the only cave to be visited on the west-side of St.Pietersberg. The Mosasaurus, a sea-reptile which must have been 7 – 15 meters long, has so far never been found anywhere else in the world. Still it was a very far away country, Vietnam, which showed it on a stamp. (50 xu, Yvert nr.151)
 

We keep our fingers crossed that. one day, maybe, Dutch stamps will be printed showing something of these worthwhile caves of South-Limburg. Pictures of the Mosasaurus, Giant Sea-Turtle, Urchins and Belemnites should do very well on stamps. We keep on hoping.