Urban Exploring – Urbex
Netherlands urbex, this is where it all started!
A hobby that got out of hand, which brought me to abandoned places in many countries in Europe.
A decaying shed was the reason, after that I saw abandoned factories, uninhabited farms and even a former monastery somewhere in Friesland.
This low-lying nation is rich with historical sites left to the mercy of time and the elements. From abandoned farms to derelict ships, urbex enthusiasts will discover a narrative of industrial heritage and human touch fading into the backdrop of a diverse natural landscape. These remnants of human activity bring a different perspective on the Netherlands, providing a glimpse of its past through the lens of urban exploration.
The small village in Friesland was in shock when residents heard that a 14-year-old boy had brutally stabbed his parents to death. After all, at first glance, Jos Verdonk’s family was perfect. He was a goat breeder, his wife had an astrology practice. They had been married for 24 years, had four children and lived on the farm with their youngest son.
Zo’n vijf jaar geleden werd ik getipt over deze plek door een aardige explorer uit Veendam en het duurde niet lang dat ik weer een trip maakte naar het Groninger platteland. Stil en verlaten, een langgerekte weg met hier en daar boerderijen, maar pal er tegenover een woonhuis met vrij uitzicht. Parkeren zou opvallen, ook al staat de auto verderop. Brutalen hebben de halve wereld, maar ik ben soms wat te bescheiden; de eerste keer bleef het bij verkennen.
This abandoned farm is at a beautiful location in the north of the Netherlands, and once a rich farmer must have lived here with his happy family.
Now there is not much left – we skipped the leftovers in the kitchen – but the authentic Frisian wooden shoes at this place were special.
The factory is a former mechanical brick factory, which has been manufacturing bricks for almost a hundred years.
I think this abandoned farm near a big lake used to be part of a sailing school after it lost it’s agricultaral functions. There are a few small boats left in the big shed, but I didn’t find any other information about the history yet.
The history of this farm, located on a provincial road in a remote area, cannot be traced.
This ship graveyard is at a small village, close to the Wadden Sea. The residents want to force a dyke breach to restore the connection between the sea and the village, in the hope tourist will find their forgotten town.
Somewhere on the longest street in the Netherlands, with residents who are a colorful mix of born Ouwedyksters, cosmopolitan Dutch people and artistic dropouts.
Château de Al Mère is a half-finished castle, meant to be a hotel: construction started in 2000 but was stopped in 2002, after which the structure was turned into a modern ruin. The castle is still waiting for its first guests to arrive…
Here, upon these ghostly shadows of men and women
There are no smiles
Singly, they mingle, with the greyness of the walls
And at strange angels, they travel on to nowhere