Kuckum

450 residents
have been relocated since 2016

From 2027, the area on which Kuckum is located today will be excavated by the Garzweiler opencast mine. For this purpose, the population has been relocated to northern Erkelenz since 2016. Kuckum has existed since 1385. Today around 450 villagers live in the place. The listed church was built in 1890 and will also be demolished along with the entire village.

Timeline Resettlement Kuckum, Keyenberg, Westrich & Berverath

16.09.2010
Planning of the resettlement becomes concrete
The lignite committee decides to have two lignite plans drawn up for the coming resettlement section (Keyenberg, Kuckum, Oberwestrich, Unterwestrich, Berverath), one for Keyenberg, one for the remaining locations. This means that residents have the opportunity to decide whether the five places want to relocate together or in two separate procedures.
2010 to 2012
A resettlement location is being sought
A resettlement location is sought in a process involving the local population. For this purpose, seven search spaces will be defined, which will be presented and discussed in public workshops.
25.11.2012
Choice of new location
On November 25, 2012, the residents of the five villages will choose the location of their new village in a secret ballot: Erkelenz-Nord. Of the 1,345 eligible voters, 874 voted, which corresponds to a voter turnout of 63%. 564 voters chose the Erkelenz-Nord location, which is 66.7%.
2012 to 2015
Planning the new location
The design of the new location is being fleshed out in various citizen forums and surveys.
09.04.2016
Start of construction new Keyenberg
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new location took place in April 2016. Construction of the town's infrastructure begins in May: canals, lines, roads, etc.
01.12.2016
Start of resettlement
Start of joint relocation of Keyenberg, Kuckum, Oberwestrich, Unterwestrich and Berverath. The residents of the villages therefore have “resettler status”.
23.03.2018
Draft church presented
The plans for the new church of Neu-Keyenberg are presented. This new building replaces both the churches of Keyenberg and Kuckum as well as the chapel of Berverath. Elements of the old buildings should be reflected in the new building: parts of the windows, individual furnishings and stones from the masonry. Construction began in summer 2020. Photo: Dewey & Blohm-Schröder Architect.
16.09.2019
Churches sold
The churches of Keyenberg and Kuckum and the chapel Berverath are sold by the parish of Christ the King to RWE. The “All Villages Remain” initiative had collected 3,000 signatures against the sale of the church.
approx. 2022 to 2027
Demolition of Keyenberg
According to current planning, the Keyenberg opencast mine will reach around 2027.
approx. 2022 to 2027
Demolition of Kuckum & Westrich
According to current planning, the opencast mine Kuckum, Ober- and Unterwestrich will reach around 2027.
approx. 2022 to 2028
Demolition of Berverath
According to the plans at the time, the opencast mine was expected to reach Berverath around 2028.

All graphics/maps in the timeline: City Erkelenz

Twelve villages will be demolished for opencast mining

Five villages have already been completely destroyed, one has almost nothing left and six others are currently being relocated. Two to three individual farms, the final mining limit is not yet entirely certain, will be relocated towards the end of the opencast mining.

450 residentshave been relocated since 2016

Timeline Resettlement Kuckum, Keyenberg, Westrich & Berverath

Planning of the resettlement becomes concrete

A resettlement location is being sought

Choice of new location

Planning the new location

Start of construction new Keyenberg

Start of resettlement

Draft church presented

Churches sold

Demolition of Keyenberg

Demolition of Kuckum & Westrich

Demolition of Berverath

Twelve villages will be demolished for opencast mining

More images from the original page

450 residents
have been relocated since 2016