Houthalen-Helchteren (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Two Houthalen-Helchteren teenagers discovered World War II explosives along with ammunition while using their metal detector on a Monday. The boys gathered the recovered items before contacting local police despite CARMA police recommending the self-recovery of such ammunition.
The two young individuals who patrolled Herebaan-Oost in Houthalen-Helchteren came across three hand grenades and six light mortars, along with one Ordnance QF 2-pounder cartridge and two 37 mm cartridges that remained from World War II. The police received notification from the youths who discovered the items, after which they erected warning tape and signage to close off the area from public entry.
Police from CARMA commended these young individuals for reporting their discovery, even though they could have easily decided to handle the explosives on their own. The bomb disposal team from DOVO ended up collecting and neutralising the ammunition.
The two Houthalen-Helchteren youths conducting a survey in Herebaan-Oost found three hand grenades as well as six light mortars, one Ordnance QF 2-pounder cartridge, and two 37 mm cartridges, which dated back to World War II.
The police received notification about recovered items from the collectors before taking immediate action by installing warning tape and signs to block public entry. The CARMA police officers thanked the young people for notifying them about explosives rather than taking control themselves. The bomb disposal unit from DOVO came to remove the ammunition before destruction.
“If you find grenades or the like, it is important to leave them there and not move them yourself. Even if something looks old or rusty, it can still be dangerous. The young people in Houthalen-Helchteren were lucky that nothing exploded. Keep your hands off and call the police – that is the right reaction. They will then take over.”
How Common are WWII explosive discoveries in the Houthalen-Helchteren Region?
Houthalen-Helchteren, together with its neighbouring Limburg provinces, frequently found unexploded WWII military equipment because of the intense fighting which occurred in this region during World War II. World War II battles reached their peak in this region until Allied forces liberated it in 1944-1945, thus creating multifaceted munitions residues.
The Belgium Demining Unit (DOVO) reports that the nation destroys approximately 200 tons of WWII explosives through annual recovery operations. The Belgium Demining Unit completed more than 1,200 wartime explosive removal operations throughout 2023 in addition to removing wartime munitions from Limburg provinces.
Historical records show that Houthalen-Helchteren was strategically important because it was close to important military supply routes alongside German and Allied temporary ammunition storage facilities.
The municipality underwent several incidents during the past decade after discoverers retrieved a 250kg aircraft bomb, which triggered forced evacuations of local residents along the E314 highway. Metal detectorists regularly find small munitions, which results in police warnings about the correct protocols for reporting such discoveries.
The regional military police organisation DOVO has conducted at least fifteen significant explosive weapon recoveries in Limburg every year since 2000. Accidental detonations of wartime objects have occurred in recent years, which demonstrates that the ongoing danger remains high. The authorities maintain strict warnings for both residents and hobbyists to refrain from touching any unknown objects while requiring them to immediately dial emergency services.
