Historia magistra vitae est. After WW2, Europe was rather desolate. The enthusiasm exposed by our parents in rebuilding the society was impressive, and so are the results. The energy supply was highly based on black coal, giving rise to the next problem: around 1960 our living environment was more and more poisoned by severe air pollution, soot problems and health risks. Clearly, this counteracted our growing economy.

Read the whole article by Professor Wim van Gemert.