Belgium Doel, May 2012 (2013)

[mookster]

North of Antwerp sits a little village lost to 'big corp', in this case the port owners who want to bulldoze the entire place to expand the port into more industrial wastelands. But a few owners are stubbornly refusing to leave, allowing the rest of the village to fall into disrepair, a magnet for graffiti artists all over including many by the revered artist Roa, speed freaks using the mile-long dead straight road into the village as a drag strip, and curious explorers who come to document the closest thing Western Europe has to Pripyat when you take into account the nuclear power station just a mile or so away.

This was the last location of my first European trip and what a way to end. On arrival, both of us kind of unconsciously wandered off on our own taking it in in our own ways, only meeting up a couple of hours later. Not often that happens to me on an explore but in this place it just kind of 'did'...















One of the few places still apparently open...























This is only a small selection, loads more here http://www.flickr.com/photos/mookie427/sets/72157629821509042/

 

[Shush]

Bloody hell Mooks, that looks right good mate, thanks for sharing that one

 

[skeleton key]

Great post there Mooks a combination of all sorts here

Another cool share





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[Perjury Saint]

A derp town... Love that!!

 

[seaside_rambler]

Fascinating places ghost towns, lovely pics

 

[Bonesout]

Good stuff, would I be correct is saying there is still one open cafe / bar there?

 

[Stussy]

Superb post Mookster, looks like a very eerie place to live!

 

[Luke]

A must for sure!

 

[Scattergun]

Eerie place that. I've been told there's a fair few unsavoury characters hangin around they parts. Nicely captured though, always sad (and frustrating) to see a community destroyed by the man!

 

[Nelly]

Lovin that!!!

 

[mookster]

Eerie place that. I've been told there's a fair few unsavoury characters hangin around they parts. Nicely captured though, always sad (and frustrating) to see a community destroyed by the man!

If by unsavoury characters you mean a coach load of old folks having a service in the still operational church then that's right

 

[Lara]

Brilliant, i would love a wander round there, nice shots