Doel: The Undying Ghost Town

Once a quiet village on the banks of the Scheldt, Doel was slowly abandoned after decades of uncertainty.

The expansion of the Port of Antwerp left the village in limbo. Demolition plans hung over the houses, and most residents left behind empty streets, abandoned homes, and a surreal industrial landscape.

But Doel never disappeared.

Artists, photographers, and creatives transformed its ruins into a unique open-air gallery. A small community kept fighting for its survival.

The most iconic initiative is the Doel Festival, which uses music as a way to revive the village. There is something deeply Belgian about that.

This year, we decided with Côme to honour this initiative through our photography and these few words.

A WORD BEFORE YOU SCROLL

We want to raise awareness among everyone reading these lines. This festival is not making any profit and is still alive thanks to the people and structure behind it.

We believe we are lucky to have these kinds of initiatives in Belgium.

We met many people travelling from abroad to experience Doel, while, as Belgians, we often prefer looking elsewhere rather than supporting the cultural structures growing right in front of us.

Doel stands between past and future: a forgotten village reborn as a cultural hotspot, where street art, music, and resistance keep the ghost town alive.

Guess what? We are part of the resistance.

THROUGH THE LENS by Hamza Raul

THE GHOST LAYER by Côme Thierry