Belgium's graffiti ghost town

Twenty years ago, Doel was a picture-postcard village with more than 1,000 residents.

But two decades ago, it was targeted for demolition to allow for the expansion of Antwerp's docks.

Most of Doel's former residents have long-since left, but a handful refused to leave and they continue to fight for their home. These days only around 20 people live there, and most of the buildings are boarded up and empty.

But as it emptied, Doel became something of a paradise for some of Europe's best-known graffiti artists. Some residents even encouraged street artists to turn up, in an attempt to create an open-air gallery.

These days, vandals are more common than street artists in this dying weather-ravaged town, life is difficult for those who remain in what has become known as Belgium's ghost town.

 

But as yet, the expansion of the docks has not yet become reality. Though Doel's ultimate destruction seems inevitable.

 

 

You can close your eyes for things you don't want to see, but you can close your heart for things you don't want to feel.

 

In Memorian, Dora.

*28-08-67

† Januari 2013

Done