Mineshaft Visit

Today JFC Brunssum (JFCBS) was delighted to host two visitors from its host town who are compiling an historic record of the old Hendrik coal mine that, in former times, occupied the JFCBS site. Freek Posthuma and Ron Slangen seized the opportunity to take many pictures of a coal mine training facility that remains intact underneath the NATO HQs to this day. Of particular interest were the several murals painted on the walls decades ago that paint a vivid picture of the harsh nature of life as a miner. The experience was of further significance for Mr Slangen as his grandfather once worked in the mine as a miner and he enjoyed walking in his ancestor’s footsteps.

History - Brunssum is the current home of Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (known as JFC Brunssum or JFCBS), a NATO headquarters one level below SHAPE in the integrated military command structure. The headquarters was known as Headquarters, Allied Forces Central Europe (HQ AFCENT) from its inception in Fontainebleau, France (1953) and relocation to Brunssum in 1967. The name was changed to Regional Headquarters, Allied Forces Northern Europe (RHQ AFNORTH) when a restructuring in 2000 led to the closing of HQ AFNORTH in Kolsås, Norwary. The current title was adopted in 2004 to add flexibility to the military command structure by removing regional restrictions. The main base area, Hendrik Camp, was built on a former coal mine called Hendrik Mine.