Securing an old miners' house in Parkstad: how to go about it

14 October 2026 · 6 min read

Heerlen, Kerkrade, Brunssum, Landgraaf and Hoensbroek have thousands of houses from the mining era. They are often well kept, but the locks and fittings are sometimes decades old. A few targeted changes make such a house a lot safer.

The weak spots of an older door

On older front doors we often see three things: a cylinder without a test mark sticking a few millimetres out of the escutcheon, a strike plate in the frame with short screws, and a letterbox through which the inside handle can be reached. Each of these is an opportunity for a burglar.

A protruding cylinder can be snapped off. The burglar then turns the lock with a screwdriver. That takes less than a minute.

Step 1: an SKG*** cylinder

A cylinder with three stars from SKG, the Dutch test institute, resists an attack for at least five minutes and has anti-snap protection. It usually fits the existing lock. With us an SKG*** cylinder costs from €129, fitting included. For interior doors and storage rooms an SKG** cylinder from €89 is often enough. Read more about the difference under lock replacement.

Step 2: escutcheon and strike plate

A security rosette or escutcheon on the outside covers the cylinder so that nothing sticks out. A strike plate with long screws reaching into the brickwork stops the door being kicked or levered open. Small changes with a big effect.

Step 3: do not forget the back door

Many miners' houses have a back door on a rear alley, out of sight of the street. That is where burglars like to try. An extra surface lock or a second cylinder lock on the back door is a good investment. Want advice? It is free with us; see home security.

Renting?

Many of these houses belong to a housing association. Talk to your landlord before having locks replaced. It is often allowed and sometimes the landlord contributes. Keep the old cylinder.

Frequently asked questions