Puits DQ (France)

Abandoned coal mine and cokes plant in France. Years of abandonment have put this industrial mastodon in a perilous state of decay. The rusty platforms and staircases could collapse any minute. Luckily the place is well secured and closed off to the outside world.

HH2 (Belgium)

The HH2 hospital dates back to the 1950s. Over the years the hospital expanded substantially; even adding a complete new wing. At a certain point, it became one of the biggest hospitals in the region with its own maternity, paediatrics departement and helicopter pad. The hospital only recently became abandoned and will be reconverted soon.

Maison Entre Nous (Belgium)

Abandoned villa somewhere in Belgium.

Eisenwerk (Germany)

Iron foundry dating back to the 1840s. During its production years, the company changed its name more than once and eventually became a VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb, a people owned company). In the beginning of the 1990s, the factory had to close its doors.

Maison Heinen (Luxembourg)

Abandoned large farm house in a quaint village in the outskirts of the city of Luxembourg. The stucco detailing and fine craftsmanship of the wall and ceiling decorations give the villa a sophisticated feel. On the first floor, newspapers and calendars dating back to the 1930s adorn the untouched bedroom, which features not only religious statues, but also the obligatory bedroom-wall-cross.

Hopital OD (Belgium)

In its heydays, this abandoned nursing home, which was built in the 1860s, had a capacity of approximately 100 beds. When the home had to close, the place was vandalized very quickly. Soon thereafter, the chapel was hermetically sealed to preserve its beauty. Recently, a reconversion-plan has been approved; the most delapidated wings have already been torn down. The central building and the chapel are awaiting reconstruction to commence.

Paper Factory (Germany)

Around 1850, this brand new textile factory was built next to the river in this quaint little village in the German rural hinterland. After a few years, it changed hands and was transformed into a paper factory. As the years passed by, the factory became the focal point of the village and an industrial catalyst for the region’s econmy. Complete production lines were built and the company gradually specialized in innovative types of paper – from crepe and textile woven paper to aluminium foil. Today, the two full-blown steam engines of this once pounding heart of Germany’s paper industry whistle no more – the factory is torn down.

Puits SMN (France)

Although the valuable black gold had already been discovered in this region in the early 1800s, the first mine shaft was only built around 1905. It was approximately 500 meters deep and was first put to use in 1908. Only a few years later, on the eve of the first World War, a second shaft was put into operation. By the beginning of the second World War, the mine had expanded further and posessed its own power plant. Today, this once thriving zenith of power lies abandoned as it awaits a new destination.

Bärenquell Brauerei (Germany)

Abandoned brewery in Berlin dating back to the late 1880s. Over the years, the brewery expanded substantially, producing a wide assortment of beers. When in 1994 the brewery had to close, it soon became the preferred purlieu for vandalizing youth and graffiti sprayers.

Maison Kirsch (Luxembourg)

Villa Kirsch is a true window on the past. In this little mansion, located in a quaint village in the outskirts of Luxembourg, time stood still since it was abandoned several decades ago.

RAW M (Germany)

This Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk (RAW), a large workshop where locomotives were repaired and serviced, dates back to the 1890s. The impressive maintenance hall with no less than 45 tracks makes it one of Germany’s largest RAW’s. The workshop even had its own small power station. Nowadays the offices, the repair- and maintenance halls and the power station are left to rot.

VEB RWTX (Germany)

Industrial textile washing and painting plant. The company was founded in the 1830s. For a period of time, it was the biggest industrial textile washing group in Germany, which furthermore played a leading role in the field of chemical washing technology. Around the 1920s, the group became a VEB (Volkseigener Betrieb) – a company owned by the people.

Hopital RB (Belgium)

Abandoned elderly home located in the green outskirts of one of Belgium’s largest cities. This geriatric facility was built in the 1970s and could accommodate more than 170 patients. When its infrastructure became outdated, the home was abandoned and is nowadays awaiting reconversion into a residential function.

Centrale Thermique Terres Rouges (Luxembourg)

Abandoned power station in the industrial heart of Luxembourg. Already in the 1870s, four furnaces were built in the region. Since then, many blast furnaces have been added, which led to the blossoming of the Luxembourg steel industry and turned it into one of the largest in Europe. Originally, only the gas which was produced by the creation of cokes was used to generate electricity – next to, evidently older techniques which existed already. Later on, however, a new process was discovered to convert the furnace gas, which was released by the melting of the steel, into electricity. In 1951, the Centrale Thermique was built, which allowed to apply this newly developed technique and thus provide electricity for the surrounding industry. When the last furnace in the region was shut down in 1997, the power station lost its purpose and was left abandoned. It soon became a hotspot for copper thieves and graffiti sprayers. The building will soon be demolished.

Sanatorium E (Germany)

Abandoned sanatorium in the outskirts of Germany.