The Nauts family has had its roots in the town of Brunssum for centuries. Brunssum is located in South Limburg (The Netherlands) and has a history dating back to Roman times, when it was already inhabited and used for agriculture. In the Middle Ages, Brunssum consisted of small agricultural settlements, with the church as the social centre. For centuries, it remained a quiet farming village. At the beginning of the 20th century, Brunssum underwent radical change with the discovery of coal. The opening of the Hendrik State Mine (1915) led to rapid growth, employment and the arrival of workers from home and abroad. Neighbourhoods, schools and facilities were built, transforming Brunssum into a true mining town. After the closure of the mines in the 1960s and 1970s, a difficult period of economic restructuring followed. Brunssum found new functions, including as an international municipality with the establishment of the NATO base JFC Brunssum, and developed into a modern town with an eye for its mining past. |