ABSTRACT
Very slowly an awareness of the 'cultural value' of this industrial heritage and an appreciation of its distinctive landscape has penetrated into the public psyche - and into the consideration of some authorities. A limited number of buildings and artefacts have been considered worthy of conserving, but even now there is no general consensus on the conservation policy, nor on the site selection criteria, although recently there has been some mention of seeking listing for the Limburg mine sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. While surely, not a realistic goal, such discussions do indicate a new valorization to the region's industrial heritage.
