Urban exploring Belgium, these are the best locations

🏚️ Abandoned buildings, ruins taken over by nature and industrial remnants with a historical past. Urban exploring, also known as urbex, is discovering these places. Belgium has many different urbex locations, from abandoned castles and sanatoriums to old factories and forgotten villages. Each place has its own history, making exploring the location feel like you're going back in time. In this blog we'll take you along to eight urbex locations you shouldn't skip when you're in Belgium.

Castle of Noisy – Celles (Chateau Miranda)

🏰 The castle of Noisy was once a gothic castle built in the 19th century and stood empty for years. It was used as a children's home and later as a holiday destination, but the structure itself continued to deteriorate. The towers, long corridors and ruins make it the perfect place for urban explorers. In 2017 it was largely demolished, but some remnants and the surroundings still show how massive this structure once was.

• Address: Rue de Noisy

• Type of building: former castle (partially demolished)

• How to reach: by car, park in the area and continue on foot

Fort de la Chartreuse – Liège

🏯 Fort de la Chartreuse was built in the 19th century as a defensive fort and later used as a military barracks and prison. Since its closure, the complex has been taken over by nature and stands largely empty. The high brick walls and decayed rooms still show what kind of fort this was. Inside you can still find old stairs, cellars and cells.

• Address: Montagne Sainte-Walbruge

• Type of building: abandoned military fort

• How to reach: by car or bus, walking distance from the center

Sanatorium du Basil – Viërzet

🏥 This sanatorium was built in the 20th century as a treatment center for tuberculosis patients and later used as a psychiatric institution. After closure it remained virtually intact, with old hospital beds, medical equipment and decayed rooms. Due to its location in a remote forested area, it's a popular urbex location. Inside you'll still find old medical files and posters, keeping the building's history tangible. Access is officially not permitted, so the location is often kept secret.

• Address: in the region of Viërzet, the exact location is often kept secret

• Type of building: abandoned sanatorium

• How to get there: by car, park nearby and continue on foot

Hasard Cheratte – Cheratte

⛏️ The coal mine of Hasard Cheratte was opened in 1867 and was for years one of the most important mines in Wallonia. After closure in 1977, the complex remained empty. This complex featured large industrial buildings, tall shafts and rusty machines. Over the years, a large part was demolished, but some sections are still accessible.

• Address: Rue de Visé 123

• Type of building: abandoned coal mine

• How to get there: by car, park in the area

Chateau de Mesen – Lede

🏚️ Chateau de Mesen was built in the 17th century and was used for years as a noble country house, military hospital, distillery and school. Since the 1970s, the castle has been empty and has partially collapsed. Overgrown walls, dilapidated towers and hidden rooms create a spooky atmosphere. Inside, you can still see remnants of stained glass windows and decorated ceilings. The building is a classic example of an urbex location where nature is slowly taking over.

• Address: Kasteelstraat

• Type of building: abandoned castle

• How to get there: by car, park nearby and continue on foot

The abandoned railway line 127 – Landen-Tienen

🚂 Railway line 127 was taken out of service in the 1960s and has since been taken over by nature. The old rails still lie between the trees, with rusty signs and tilting signals that show trains once ran here. Along this route you'll find tunnels and bridges, so plenty of spots for photography. The tunnels, some of which are unstable, provide extra adventure when exploring this railway line.

• Address: between Landen and Tienen

• Type of building: abandoned railway line

• How to reach: bike or car, various entry points along the railway line

The abandoned station of Montzen

🚉 The former border station at Montzen lost its function after the restructuring of rail traffic. Freight trains chose other routes and passenger transport stopped completely. Since then, the complex has stood empty and has grown into a well-known spot for urban explorers.

In recent periods, the station has unfortunately become a target for vandalism. There is debris and waste everywhere.

• Address: Montzen, Plombiëres

• Type of building: abandoned train station

• How to reach: car or bus, walking distance from Montzen

The abandoned ghost village Doel

🏘️ Doel was largely abandoned due to the expansion of the port of Antwerp, causing many residents to leave their homes. Today, the streets are filled with abandoned buildings, broken windows and graffiti on the walls. Some houses have now turned green with nature, while others are still completely furnished. Despite some residents having stayed, there's still an abandoned atmosphere. The empty schools, shops and old mill contribute to this atmosphere.

• Address: Doel, near Antwerp

• Type of building: abandoned village

• How to reach: car or bus, parking in the village

The abandoned swimming pools of La Piscine – Flanders

🏊‍♂️ Various old swimming pools in Flanders have been abandoned over the years and have become perfect urbex locations. The empty pools, peeling tiles and decaying changing rooms show a faded glory, making it feel like you're stepping into another time. Some pools still have old diving boards and rusty lockers, while others mainly show moss and mold. Because the exact locations often remain secret, the name 'La Piscine' is widely used in the urbex community.

• Address: exact location is kept secret

• Type of building: abandoned swimming pool complex

• How to reach: car, parking in the area

Discover urban exploring in Belgium!

🗺️ Belgium has plenty of abandoned and hidden places that are perfect for urban exploring. From castles and old industrial complexes to abandoned villages and forts, there's enough to discover. Make sure to prepare well, respect the locations and experience the atmosphere of all these places.

🌐 Online there's a large community of urban exploring in Belgium, a good tip from us is to also take a look at the reddit of UrbexBelgium. Here people share their experiences and recommend locations.

🌍 Want to discover more about urban exploring? Then take a look at our blog about urban exploring in Amsterdam or Groningen.