There is no place in Belgium that feels more mysterious and therefore attracts many urban explorers and other curious people than Doel. The “ghost town”, located near the port of Antwerp, has transformed over the past decades from a lively village to an abandoned place. Not only a very fascinating story, but above all very impressive to see!
In this blog post, I will give you all my tips to visit the ghost town of Doel yourself: walking through the decaying streets and past graffiti-sprayed houses. Curious? All information on visiting Doel can be found below!
Where is Doel located?
Doel is a small and nowadays largely abandoned village in Belgium, located in the north of the province of East Flanders and bordering the Netherlands. It is located on the right bank of the Scheldt near the port of Antwerp and belongs to the municipality of Beveren. However, due to the ever-growing port of Antwerp, Doel is increasingly swallowed up.
History of Doel
Doel has not always been a ghost town. The history of the tragic fate of the municipality began in the 70s. The Flemish government decided that the village had to disappear in order to expand the port of Antwerp. Despite much protest, this led to the eviction of the residents. Whereas Doel still had 1400 inhabitants in the early 1970s, that number dwindled as the threat of the expansion of the port of Antwerp became real. Nowadays there are only a dozen inhabitants left who have stayed in protest with success, because it seems that Doel will be allowed to continue to exist.
How do you get to Doel?
Doel is located a few kilometres from the Dutch border and half an hour’s drive from Antwerp. To reach Doel, the best way to drive is through the maze of the port of Antwerp. You will also have to drive through the Liefkenshoek tunnel (toll: 7 euros, 2024). From there, the municipality of Doel is indicated by signs.
However, you cannot just drive into the village by car. You must log in with your Belgian e-ID at a machine to gain access. Even if you are not from Belgium, you can visit the ghost town of Doel. The only requirement is that you have an e-ID with a chip for scanning.
You can park in the free car park in the Scheldemolenstraat near De Molen or along the street in the designated parking spaces.
Are you coming by bike, moped or on foot? Then you can always enter without registering.
Tip: Visit Doel on a weekday when it’s significantly less crowded!
Things to do in Doel
I visited Doel during my weekend in the Waasland. Not only are the polders here very impressive for hiking, but visiting the ghost town had been on my list for a long time.
Countless graffiti artworks
From the moment the inhabitants left Doel, the village was taken over by artists who made works of art on the empty buildings with their spray cans. When you walk through the streets of Doel, you imagine yourself in an open-air museum where you can admire numerous graffiti artworks. Don’t forget your camera, because the site is a paradise for every street photographer!
Ship on dry land
In 2021, the historic ship Ortelius moved from the Dry Docks site in Antwerp to the village of Doel in East Flanders for renovation. It is a remarkable sight in the village scene and certainly a must-see if you are going to visit the ghost town of Doel.
Abandoned petrol station
When entering Doel, you will undoubtedly encounter the abandoned Avia petrol station. When the village emptied, this petrol station also ran dry. One of the most apocalyptic sights in the village!
Church and cemetery
The church is undoubtedly the best-maintained building in Doel. This is thanks to its status as a protected monument. Church services are still being held. The cemetery is also less deserted than you might think and still attracts visitors from time to time.
Mill
The mill of Doel dates from 1614-1615. The stone part, on the other hand, is slightly younger and was added in 1835. Nowadays, the mill serves as a café-restaurant, ideal for a drink or a bite to eat during your trip to Doel.
Update: Restaurant De Molen was closed in 2022. However, renovation work is currently underway to reopen it soon.
Nuclear Power Station
The Doel nuclear power plant is the biggest eye-catcher of the ghost village. Because of the two cooling towers, the whole village is a bit reminiscent of Chernobyl. Although fortunately the flight of the inhabitants here has another reason.
The Dike
Doel is located on the Scheldt and from the Scheldt dike you have a beautiful view of the port of Antwerp.
Hiking trails through Doel
Doel is only a few streets in size and is therefore easy to walk to see the highlights and soak up the desolate atmosphere. Some walking routes in the area took you along and through the village. The ideal way to discover Doel!
Ouden Doel walking route
This 11.4 km walk takes you through one of Europe’s largest tidal areas. It is in the Groot Saeftinghe Border Park that the Scheldt is given free rein. The river forms this area with the church of Prosperdorp and the radar tower of Ouden Doel as landmarks.
The walk starts in the hamlet of Prosperdorp, which is split in two by the border with the Netherlands. Via the dike you will come across beautiful stopping places such as the bat tower, intended to give the bat populations from the empty buildings in the polders a new home.
Via the Hedwige-Prosper area you arrive in the hamlet of Ouden Doel, with the PolderMAS, a small museum with a nod to the MAS in Antwerp. You will find a collection of fossils, etchings, old maps, paintings and photographs documenting life on the lower left bank of the Scheldt.
A few junctions further you arrive at the Radar Tower. Since 2016, it has replaced an older tower that stood in the nature reserve. The radar tower Ouden Doel is a vantage point. Be sure to climb the tower to the first floor and enjoy the panoramic view over the harbour, the Scheldt and the nature reserve.
During the rest of the walk, the cooling towers of the Doel nuclear power station are your view. The thick cloud of water vapour can be seen from miles away. Thirsty from all the walking? After the walk, be sure to pop into Den Angeluus, the last remaining café in the village. A regular stop for locals and walkers.
Walking route ‘Ghost Town Doel’
The best way to visit the ghost town of Doel is on foot. For example, with this 10.2 km walk that takes you through the streets of Doel, but also leads you to the nuclear power station and the surrounding polders. The walk is the ideal way to discover the mix between the desolation of the ghost village and the surrounding views.
