Molenberg is a former mining colony on the eastern edge of Heerlen, built in the early 20th century to house workers from the nearby Oranje Nassau I colliery. Mining colonies — planned residential communities built by the colliery companies — are one of the distinctive features of South Limburg's industrial history, and Molenberg is one of the best preserved.
The streets are laid out in a deliberate pattern, the houses built to a consistent standard that was meant to project stability and respectability. The buildings are in good condition and the neighbourhood remains inhabited, making it a quiet and somewhat melancholy reminder of the industry that built modern Heerlen.
A walk through Molenberg takes about 30 minutes. It can be combined with a visit to the site of the Oranje Nassau I mine shaft, now landscaped as a park with information boards explaining the colliery's history.