Otzenrath

Otzenrath belonged to the together with Spenrath and Holz
first resettlement phase for the Garzweiler II opencast mine.
The demolition took place by 2008.

Otzenrath was the first place I visited in 2006. The place was obviously no longer inhabited and most of the buildings were demolished. Only the village center with the two churches, the elementary school, the main square, the cemetery and the Leuffen manor still stood.

Despite the advanced demolition, you could still clearly see the village structure and that Otzenrath must have been a nice place. Here I decided to also photograph the other villages affected by the Garzweiler II opencast mine from the beginning.

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Timeline Resettlement Otzenrath, Spenrath & Holz

May 1992
Population survey
As early as 1992, local initiatives were formed which carried out citizen surveys to choose a new village location. In May, the responsible municipality Jüchen also asked for suggestions from the population.
June 1992
Possible locations
Seven locations were followed up. For Otzenrath/Spenrath these were Buschhof, Hackhausen-Nord, Quackshof, Jüchen-Nord and Bissen. Hochneukirch-Nord and Waat-Süd were proposed for Holz.
October 1992
Survey
After various preliminary investigations left four potential locations, a household survey was carried out in Otzenrath, Spenrath and Holz. The citizens of Otzenrath and Spenrath chose the Hackausen-Nord location, the citizens of Holz chose Hochneukirch-Nord.
1995
Lawsuit against Garzweiler
After the Garzweiler opencast mine was approved in March 1995, the Jüchen municipality considered filing a lawsuit against the Garzweiler brown coal plan with the aim of preventing it. In a citizen survey, 74.5% of all citizens of Jüchen were in favor of a lawsuit. Ultimately, the lawsuit before the Constitutional Court failed in 1997.
1996
Election of citizens' advisory councils
The local council of Jüchen decides to set up citizens' advisory boards to involve the affected population in the upcoming decision-making processes. These citizens' advisory boards are elected in Otzenrath/Spenrath and appointed in Holz.
1999 - 2000
Development plans
After various workshops, site visits and other involvement of the population, the development plans for Holz and Otzenrath-Spenrath are approved.
August 6, 1999
Groundbreaking ceremony Otzenrath
In August 1999, construction of the new locations began with the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony.
October 21, 2000
Groundbreaking ceremony Holz
In October 2000 the groundbreaking ceremony was also held in Holz.
July 25, 2001
First residents in the new town
In the summer of 2001, the first houses were finished and the first resettlers moved to the new towns.
November 28, 2004
De-dedication of the Protestant church
The last service will take place in the Protestant church of Otzenrath on November 28, 2004.
June 5, 2006
New Protestant church
The new Protestant church in Neu-Otzenrath will be put into operation in the summer.
June 18, 2006
De-dedication of the Catholic Church
In June 2006, the Catholic Church of Otzenrath will be de-dedicated with a final service, making it a normal secular building under canon law and can be demolished.
October 28, 2006
New Catholic Church
On October 28, 2006, the new Catholic church of Otzenrath was consecrated.
March 2007
Demolition of the Catholic church
As of March 8th, Otzenrath's Catholic church will be demolished. The center column is installed so that it survives the demolition undamaged. It will be installed in the new village.
March 2007
Demolition of the Protestant church
On March 12th the Protestant church of Otzenrath will be demolished. become.
July 2007
Last building in Otzenrath
In the summer of 2007, the last building of Otzenrath was demolished: the elementary school in the former town center.
January 2011
Water tower is blown up
When the water tower was blown up, the town of Holz was completely leveled.
July 2013
Manor will be demolished
The last building of Otzenrath, Spenrath and Holz is the estate Spenrath to be demolished. This was managed until the end.

Photo: Arne Müseler www.garzweiler.com www.arne-mueseler.com hallo@arne-mueseler.com

Janusz Korczak Elementary School Otzenrath (2006)

Janusz Korczak Elementary School Otzenrath (2007)

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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.

Otzenrath belonged to the together with Spenrath and Holzfirst resettlement phase for the Garzweiler II opencast mine.The demolition took place by 2008.

Timeline Resettlement Otzenrath, Spenrath & Holz

Population survey

Possible locations

Survey

Lawsuit against Garzweiler

Election of citizens' advisory councils

Development plans

Groundbreaking ceremony Otzenrath

Groundbreaking ceremony Holz

First residents in the new town

De-dedication of the Protestant church

New Protestant church

De-dedication of the Catholic Church

New Catholic Church

Demolition of the Catholic church

Demolition of the Protestant church

Last building in Otzenrath

Water tower is blown up

Manor will be demolished

Twelve villages will be demolished for opencast mining

More images from the original page

Otzenrath belonged to the together with Spenrath and Holz
first resettlement phase for the Garzweiler II opencast mine.
The demolition took place by 2008.