The West mine, owned by RAG Deutsche Steinkohle, was the last coal mine in operation on the left bank of the lower Rhine to cease production at the end of 2012, on the basis of the resolutions contained in the Steinkohlefinanzierungsgesetz (German Hard Coal Financing Act) of 2007. As a typical amalgamated mine (Verbundbergwerk) in the Ruhr mining industry in recent decades, it was made up of a number of previously independent mines.

 

There are several rooms for the baskets in which the miners stored their clothing and personal belongings while they were mining. Each basket can the drawn up to the ceiling, out of reach, and locked in place to ensure the security of the items they contain.

The coal processing plant is extensive and contains a network of conveyors for transporting the coal around the site. Some of the machines are clearly older than others and some appear to have been out of commission for a lot longer than the the site has been closed.