Doel, once a peaceful East Flemish village in the Scheldepolders, has been known for several years for its vacant houses and streets full of graffiti and street art. With the exception of a dozen residents, the village is completely deserted and is gradually becoming a ghost town.
In the early 1970s, Doel had about 1,300 inhabitants. Almost fifty years later, the village has more dilapidated houses than inhabited houses and only about ten people still live there. These people have always continued to fight for the preservation of their village. The rest left Doel voluntarily - between 1999 and 2003 the residents were able to sell their house - when plans for an expansion of the port of Antwerp and a new nuclear power plant were announced. Ultimately, the port expansion did not go ahead.
The street plan of Doel is as you know from American major cities such as New York or San Francisco. A checkerboard pattern that you hardly see anywhere else in Belgian cities or villages.
Its origins can be found in the 17th century when the village was systematically reclaimed and redeveloped. This redesign was forced by the intensive peat extraction that took place here. This peat excavation made the place vulnerable to flooding, causing the village center to be moved to its current location.
Recently, the windows and doors of the abandoned houses have been completely closed with metal plates. This is to keep squatters and intruders out of the buildings as much as possible. Unfortunately, many of the beautiful graffiti works were lost as a result. You see a lot of tags and draft work, but also true works of art from, among others, ROA.
Attention:
Doel attracts many day trippers, especially in the summer months.
During the weekend, Doel can only be reached by car via the Engelssteenweg if you have Belgian nationality. Upon entry, you must register with a Belgian identity card at a machine, after which access will be granted.
Doel is always accessible by motorcycle or on foot. Doel can be reached by car via Scheldemolenstraat when the barrier there is open. Unlike the barriers on the Engelssteenweg, this barrier does not work automatically.
It is a very special experience to walk through the almost deserted Doel, with all those graffiti and closed houses. It was recently decided that Doel has a future again. I hope that will work again.
Doel, a picturesque village in the province of East Flanders, has a history dating back to the 17th century. Originally a polder village of agriculture and shipping. But times are changing significantly for this quiet town.
The fate of Doel was forever influenced by the expansion of the port of Antwerp, one of the world's largest and busiest seaports. The port needed more space for new docks and infrastructure, and Doel was nearby. The expansion of the port led to a gradual exodus of the village. Many residents left their homes and Doel began to change.
But Doel didn't just give up. A heated discussion arose about the future of the village. On the one side were people who advocated the preservation and restoration of Doel as a cultural heritage. They see the charm of the old houses and the rich history of the village as reasons to save the village from the demolition hammer.
On the other side, there were eviction supporters. They argued that Doel had to make way for the economic interests of the port of Antwerp. This group wanted to give up Doel and house the residents elsewhere.
As the argument raged, Doel started off slowly in a ghost town. Many houses were abandoned and disturbed in disrepair. But there was also an unexpected twist. Artists and graffiti artists discovered Doel and began using abandoned buildings as their canvas. Colorful murals and artwork adorned the expensive walls. This brought a new wave of interest to the village, now not only for its history but also as an emerging arts destination.
The future of Doel remains uncertain. Political decisive and economic developments will ultimately determine what will happen to the village. The story of Doel is an intriguing mix of history, economics, and cultural creativity, and it remains a place that continues to evolve in an ever-changing world.
#WandelTotaal
Translated by Google •
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