Dutch SCHUNCK Museum (NL)

In August 1976, the skyline of Heerlen changed in two swift moves. The first came from the 155-metre-high chimney, Lange Lies. It fell, as planned, onto the deathbed intended for it. Five days later, on Saturday 21 August, it was the turn of the 130-metre-high Lange Jan, described by carnivalist Wiel Knipa in ‘d’r Lange Jan Marsj’ as ‘a troublemaker lying in wait’. Jan fell awkwardly and, in his fall, destroyed several houses, including an office villa belonging to the Oranje-Nassau Mines. Fortunately, no one was injured. But very soon, talk turned to ‘the revenge of Lange Jan’.   

Not a ‘lieu de mémoire’, but an ‘idée de mémoire’

Although Lies was 25 metres taller than Jan, she always stood in his shadow. Even at the end. Jan was given a memorial card, a funeral attended by some 20,000 mourners and a reception for 2,000 guests. For Lies, there was nothing. Fifty years after they were forced to leave Heerlen, during Cultura Nova we will commemorate and bring back to life Heerlen’s most famous couple – not just Jan, but certainly Lies too – with a coffee reception. We’ll share their stories through words, song and images. And, of course, with black coffee and black plum flan. Just like back then, fifty years ago. Anyone who’d like to share their memories is welcome to join us at the table.