The well-paid work attracted many people to Neutral-Moresnet, and over time the population increased tenfold. The Vieille Montagne mine built a school, two churches, houses and a pharmacy, and paid for teachers, priests and a doctor. Sick and injured workers were taken care of promptly. Citizens clubbed together in associations. The old carnival societies survive to this day, and the annual Kirmes fair had its origins in Neutral-Moresnet. "The Vieille Montagne mining company shaped the entirety of social life back then," says Céline Ruess. But there was a price to pay: no trade unions, no elections, and strict and outdated laws.
Nationality played no role in Neutral-Moresnet. Citizens regarded themselves as neutrals – and do so to some degree even today. "In Kelmis, you are a Kelmiser first and foremost, and then, for instance, a German-speaking Belgian," explains nature guide Robert Schmetz. The people of Neutral-Moresnet also gave themselves an unofficial coat of arms, showing a crossed hammer and pick with the stars from the mining company’s logo at the top of the shield, with the Belgian lion and the Prussian eagle side by side beneath. "This really demonstrates the self-confidence of Neutral-Moresnet," Céline says about her favourite exhibit, referring to the current coat of arms of Kelmis. The lion, eagle, miner's tools and stars have remained, albeit in more modern forms and with new implications.