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.