Natural monument ENCI quarry, Sint Pietersberg, Maastricht.

by Marjolein Zijlstra

A wall of marl in the ENCI quarry in Maastricht. After the ENCI factory stopped exploiting marl for the production of cement, this quarry eventually became a nature park owned by Natuurmonumenten where you can take a beautiful walk in an un-Dutch landscape. While walking, you descend through the limestone layers that were released during the excavation of the marl. A time travel of 1,000 years per cm of depth. The Mosasaurus was found here, as were many other less famous fossil remains from many millions of years ago. A walk through this natural monument is a unique experience within the borders of the Netherlands, as there are more in the South Limburg region, with lots of lime in the soil and the many caves created in the past by mining the marl as a building material for the many old houses in the region by the block breakers.
Of course, the flora and fauna in the quarry are entirely influenced by the presence of the large amount of lime. The eagle owl has lived here for years in the recesses of the exposed marl passages and raises one or more young each year. In any case, the old ENCI quarry has begun a new life and, as a nature park, is a wonderful addition to what our country offers in terms of natural beauty.