Sanne Rompen-Gijsbers and Kevin Goes (NL)

The search for the identity of a forgotten generation.

From the late 1960s to the early 2000s, Heerlen went through a deep trough. The closure of the mines left behind a city searching for itself; raw, fearless and without an identity. But it was precisely in that void that something unexpected emerged. 

In the early 1980s, Heerlen proved to be fertile ground for a new generation. Due to numerous outside influences and the lack of a strong sense of identity following the closure of the mines, the young people of the late twentieth century were searching for themselves and did not know how to express themselves. This gave rise to a thriving hip-hop culture, hard-hitting punk in squats and a graffiti scene that was unrivalled in the Netherlands. The city is now reaping the rewards of this: IBE is the biggest annual breakdance event in Heerlen, and the large murals throughout the city attract visitors and artists from all over the world. But the story being told is incomplete. In that story, the past is glorified – from Roman times to the glorious mining years – but the fertile ground of the raw 1980s and 1990s is swept under the carpet.