KAUE | WITH A LONG HISTORY

Today, KAUE Gelsenkirchen is a vibrant hub of industrial culture in the Ruhr region. Its welcoming, club-like atmosphere provides the perfect setting for cabaret and variety shows as well as concerts. No visitor is more than 12 meters from the stage, which guarantees a lively atmosphere.

The cozy club atmosphere of this industrial monument extends to KAUE’s dining area: the space that once housed the gatehouse and the former quality control room of the Wilhelmine Victoria 1/4 coal mine has been converted into a trendy pub.

Many artists who now perform in large venues took their first steps at KAUE.

KAUE HISTORICAL

Until the late 1980s, the KAUE was part of the Wilhelmine Victoria coal mine in the famous Schalke district.

After several mining companies discovered coal deposits in the Wilhelmine Victoria area in the 1850s, coal was mined in Schalke in the years that followed.
Due to the Great Depression, some mining shafts were taken out of production in 1928. A power plant was built to generate electricity from the mined coal.
In 1945, production at the 1/4 shaft was temporarily halted entirely due to war damage. The onset of the coal crisis led to the closure of the Wilhelmine Victoria coal mine in June 1960.
However, the Fritz-Heinich coal mine continued to use the shafts as an external facility until the 1980s. After production ceased, the mine grounds were developed with commercial and residential buildings. The mine was permanently closed and was in danger of falling into disrepair.

Starting in 1989, the Wilhelmine Victoria 1/4 coal mine was converted into a modern event venue and reopened in 1992. Since then, many well-known artists have performed at this Gelsenkirchen venue, which is renowned throughout Germany.