The Mountain’s Breath by Sven Gerhardt
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Text in Dutch + English
In the southern reaches of the Netherlands, near Maastricht, lies the plateau of Caestert, a landscape carved predominantly from limestone. Its northern expanse forms the Sint-Pietersberg, a hill whose core holds centuries of history. During the Middle Ages, people began extracting this soft stone by hand, recognizing its value as a building material. Block by block, they carved an intricate network beneath the surface—a vast, subterranean labyrinth known as the mergelgroeven or marl quarries.
Etched into the soft stone walls is an extraordinary archive: inscriptions, sketches, notes, and names dating back to the late Middle Ages. These markings—left behind by quarrymen, travelers, soldiers, scholars, and priests—tell a story not only of life underground but of life above as well. Within this stone chronicle lies the first discovery of the Mosasaurus, remnants of past wars and liberation, and whispered legends passed through generations. At times, the tunnels even became sanctuaries, safeguarding treasures like Rembrandt’s Night Watch from harm.
The 1960s brought a turning point when a cement company began excavating Slavante, the oldest part of the tunnel system, initiating the gradual erasure of this cultural and historical wonder. In response, concerned individuals set out to preserve its legacy before it was lost. Among them was Jan Spee, who tirelessly photographed and documented the labyrinth. His efforts—thousands of images, meticulous notes, and thoughtfully compiled maps—culminated in a collection now housed at the Historisch Centrum Limburg, spanning over 21 linear metres of archival material.
The Mountain’s Breath (De Adem van de Berg) offers a profound and richly layered journey into this hidden world, guided by the voice and vision of Jan Spee. Compiled by Sven Gerhardt, the book honors Spee’s work, bringing clarity and context to a wealth of visual and cultural-historical material. Like a walk through the tunnels themselves, it unfolds with wonder and insight, illuminating the mystery, memory, and meaning etched into the heart of the Sint-Pietersberg.